Sessions included essential topics such as: "The Soul of Iran," "Why They Want Nukes," "The Iranian Political Pyramid," and "Smashing Stereotypes." 

Speakers

Geneive Abdo, author and analyst, and fellow at The Century Foundation.

Kamiar Alaei, MD/MPH, co-author of Iran's National and International Strategic Plans for the Control of HIV/IDU/TB.

Joyce Barnathan, President, International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).

James Breckenridge, PhD, associate director, Stanford University's Center for Interdisciplinary Policy, Education, and Research on Terrorism.

Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Associate Professor of Political Science, Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and founding director of the Middle Eastern Studies Program, and co-director of the Religion, Media and International Relations Program.

Deborah Campbell, award-winning writer and journalist who has worked in Iran, Syria, Dubai, Egypt, Cuba, Russia and Israel-Palestine.

Sanam Dolatshahi, one of the first women to write a blog in Iran. She was the editor of Iran's first e-zine, Cappuccino, and editor of the English section of Women in Iran, the first news Web site for women in Iran.

Kaveh Ehsani, research scholar, University of Illinois, Chicago.

Farideh Farhi, Professor, University of Hawaii, and author of "States and Urban-Based Revolutions: Iran and Nicaragua."

Nikahang Kowsar, Iranian cartoonist, journalist, and blogger.

Ambassador John Limbert, former U.S. Ambassador in Tehran, and currently Distinguished Professor of International Affairs, U.S. Naval Academy.

Omid Memarian, Iranian journalist and social activist, and 2001 recipient of the Golden Pen at the National Press Festival in Iran.

Afshin Molavi, Fellow, New America Foundation and author of "The Soul of Iran."

Barbara Slavin, senior fellow, the U.S. Institute of Peace. Formerly senior diplomatic reporter for USA Today.

Babak Yektafar, editor-in-chief, Washington Prism.