The Stimson Center’s Middle East Program seeks to inform policy discussions on the Middle East by leveraging regional expertise, convening dialogues, and producing rigorous, non-partisan analysis and scholarship. The program assesses regional geopolitical developments with a focus on conflict management, regional security, and post-conflict peacebuilding. Through sustained engagement with policymakers, scholars, and subject-matter experts, the program aims to advance practical policy thinking rooted in on-the-ground realities.
A core pillar of the program is the convening of high-level Track 1.5 and Track 2.0 regional dialogues that bring together policymakers, academics, and experts to conduct joint analysis, discuss de-escalation processes, and advance regional cooperation. The program also organizes issue-area roundtables to develop impactful policy recommendations informed by global lessons learned and regional experience. The program’s analysis and policy outputs are directly informed by the insights generated through these dialogues and roundtables.
President Trump’s social media threat about possible regime change in Iran added to the speculation that collapse of the Iranian government is also the U.S. goal
June 26, 2025
Now that U.S. forces have joined the fight, militia leaders face an excruciating choice: confront both Israel and the U.S. or stand down and risk losing Iranian public support
June 23, 2025
Iranians defend their sovereignty against Israeli attack but demand change and an end to the policies that put them in this predicament
June 16, 2025
Diplomacy is at threat and an already bloodied Middle East is on edge
June 13, 2025
So far, Chinese officials have not acknowledged the suffering of Syrian civilians at the hands of the Assad regime
June 12, 2025
It is not necessary to have zero enrichment to have confidence that Iran is not diverting materials to build a bomb
June 10, 2025
Russia fuels Bushehr, complicating Iran’s insistence on maintaining its own nuclear enrichment capacity
June 5, 2025
A U.S.-Iran nuclear deal may hinge on survival instincts and political vanity—echoing past patterns in new ways
June 3, 2025
