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 Iran weighs whether to change its nuclear doctrine, it is also considering extending the range of its missiles beyond a self-imposed limit of 2,000 kilometers
November 8, 2024
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon has struggled to fulfill its mandate of restoring Lebanese government sovereignty in the south and safeguarding the Lebanese border
November 4, 2024
The U.S. supply to Iraqi Kurdistan reflects a desire by Washington to maintain a long-term presence in the area beyond the withdrawal of U.S. forces from central Iraq next year
November 1, 2024
The Houthi capture of the port of Hodeida in November 2021 enabled the Houthis to begin weaponizing the maritime domain
October 29, 2024
Iran's renewable energy sector now produces less than one percent of the nation's total electricity, far less than its neighbors
October 23, 2024
The Iranian government, while aiming to redefine its foreign policy and engage with the West, faces criticism for not adequately addressing regional tensions
October 21, 2024
Peaceful elections could offer a counter-narrative to the violence and governance failures prevailing in much of the rest of the Middle East
October 18, 2024
Over 45 years, the deep state of security organizations has determined the “big game” of Iran’s foreign policy to the detriment of successive presidential administrations
October 16, 2024
