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.
Iranian civil society pressures are influencing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to cross red lines in nuclear talks and other issues
May 1, 2025
To achieve significant cooperation with the new rulers in Damascus, Russia will have to factor in Turkish interests
April 29, 2025
Pressure from the Trump administration on Iraq to reduce its dependence on Iran offers Turkey a wider strategic window to deepen engagement
April 25, 2025
Iran’s indirect negotiations reflect caution and a desire to control the diplomatic narrative amid perceived U.S. inexperience
April 24, 2025
Exploring the potentially destabilizing factors that could undermine Cairo's role as a mediator between Hamas and Israel
April 18, 2025
For Iran, invoking the ‘Libya model’ brings complex dynamics to the forefront as Tehran weighs the risks of trusting and compromising with Western actors
April 17, 2025
Moscow does not want to see its military cooperation with Tehran tested by a collision between Washington and Tehran
April 11, 2025
The Islamic Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development could create a joint Levant reconstruction fund to address the region’s urgent needs
April 8, 2025
