How To Engage
Dr. Efrat Sopher works on Iran, Israel, Gulf security and geopolitics in six forms: as a strategic advisor to governments and institutions, as a private briefer to boards and security teams, as a track-two convenor across communities and faiths, as a researcher producing bespoke geopolitical dossiers, as a keynote speaker on international platforms, and as a commentator across broadcast and press. Each focus connects to the same body of expertise, applied in the form best suited to the audience.
Strategic Advisory on Iran, Israel and Gulf Security
A retained or project-based advisory relationship for governments, parliaments, foreign ministries and international institutions that need a consistent expert read on the politics of the region. The work goes granular, covering Iran’s domestic dynamics and regional influence, Israel’s foreign relations, developments in the Abraham Accords, the security architecture of the Gulf, and prevailing concerns in the region. Past engagements include serving as Expert Advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on International Relations during its inquiry on the Middle East, briefings for German foreign-ministry officials, and meetings with national-security and counter-terrorism teams at the White House and the State Department. Her work analysing Iran and the IRGC has been used by members of the House of Lords and the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Private Briefings
Discreet briefings for boards, investment committees, security teams, philanthropic principals and diplomatic missions that need a current, defensible read on a specific regional question. Delivered as a single session or a recurring series. Past work includes round tables in the House of Lords on the Iranian threat, addresses to EU security conferences on Iranian influence in Europe, briefings at the United Nations on the IRGC and the actions of Iran internationally, the campaign for the proscription of Hezbollah and IRGC, and briefings to government and community leaders in Bahrain and the UAE.
Track-Two Diplomacy and Cross-Communal Convening
Track-two diplomacy is the quiet, relationship-led work that happens outside formal government channels. Bringing unlikely parties to the same table, building durable trust across communities and faiths, and creating the conditions in which official diplomacy can later succeed is no easy task. It is work most rarely advertised and most often decisive. In practice, for Dr. Sopher, it has meant establishing the Drumlanrig Accords between UK Jews and Muslims presented to King Charles III, co-founding an India- Jewish civic alliance through Voice of the People led by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, hosting Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi at the University of Haifa for the unveiling of his vision for a democratic Iran, and leading a delegation to the UAE on interfaith relations after the Abraham Accords. Her interfaith record extends to a place among the first non-Muslim delegations to Medina with a platform in Riyadh on faith and belief, and co-leading the Kishreinu Commission with the Holy See, developing a historic document between the Jewish people and the Catholic Church.
Geopolitical Support and Intelligence Dossiers
Bespoke written analysis for clients who need a structured, defensible read on a regional question, delivered as a research report, a briefing memo, a recurring intelligence note or a full dossier. The work draws on her academic training in primary-source research, which produced a doctoral thesis built on thousands of previously unseen documents, and on her current network across the region. Past outputs include a country report on Italy for the World Jewish Congress, used as a reference since 2019, and detailed analyses on Iran and the IRGC drawn on by the House of Lords and the Israeli Foreign Ministry. She currently leads the World Jewish Congress' task force on Islamist extremism.
Keynotes, Panels and Conference Platforms
Public speaking on Iran, Israel, Gulf security, the Abraham Accords, antisemitism and Islamist extremism, delivered to international conferences, parliamentary forums, universities, industry events and private gatherings. She has delivered the keynote on Iran in strategic and historical context at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, addressed the European Parliament, spoken at the British Embassy's Riyadh forum on freedom of religion and belief, presented at the Srebrenica Collective Memory Conference, and led discussions at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi. She has also represented the World Jewish Congress at the UN Human Rights Council to discuss antisemitism and the Iran threat. She takes keynotes, panel contributions and panel moderation.
Media Features and Written Commissions
On-the-record commentary across television, radio, print and podcasts on developments in Iran, Israel and the wider Middle East, and commissioned written pieces for international publications. She is a regular voice across British and Israeli broadcast and press, featured as an expert on networks such as the BBC, Sky News, LBC, The Times, The Telegraph, The Jerusalem Post, Channel 12, and other international publications on Iran's IRGC, Israel-Iran relations, and the legacy of dialogue between the two peoples. She also hosts the World Jewish Congress's Jewish World Podcast and its webinar series in conversation with diplomats and academics worldwide.
