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.
As competition has intensified, rifts between the two Arab nations have deepened, occasionally leading to strained relations and divergent geoeconomic and geopolitical agendas.
January 24, 2025
A new agreement to import Russian gas through Azerbaijan – signed by Iran’s president in Moscow -- may reflect difficulties in constructing a pipeline under the Caspian Sea.
January 22, 2025
Trump’s personal approach to politics aligns well with the tendencies of Middle Eastern leaders, potentially enabling more effective U.S. policies during his presidency
January 17, 2025
Space cooperation could be a central element in a long-expected strategic partnership agreement that is likely to be signed when the Iranian president visits Moscow January 17
January 16, 2025
The planned withdrawal of American forces from central Iraq offers Iran and its Iraqi affiliates a strategic opportunity to consolidate their influence and compensate for the loss of Syria
January 10, 2025
Historic examples in countries such as Portugal and Greece show how military defeats can catalyze democratic transitions by exposing the incompetence of authoritarian regimes
January 9, 2025
Iranian leaders have tended to prefer Republican U.S. presidents who have historically sought transactional deals, delivered on arms sales, and refrained from punishing human rights abuses in the region
December 17, 2024
Despite close ties to Iran, Iran has been practically ignored in major projects such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Trans-Caspian Sea
December 16, 2024
