On March 25th, UVA Vice Provost for Global Affairs Stephen Mull delivered the first Learning Together Lunch Hour presentation of the Spring 2025 Semester. Ambassador Mull discussed the history of Iranian diplomatic relations, particularly with regard to the United States. He placed special emphasis on recent events between the U.S. and Iran, including the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which negotiated the reduction of the Iranian Nuclear Program from 2015–2018. Finally, he offered cautious hope that Iran may be willing to negotiate once again with the U.S. on reducing their military nuclear power in light of recent economic and military pressures from the United States.

The Learning Together Lunch Hour Series began in response to Hamas’s attacks on civilians in Israel and the onset of the war in Gaza. These events invite all UVA faculty and students to lunch and a short faculty presentation about some aspect of the conflict with the goals of education and conversation.