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.
The original framework for negotiations – involving Iran, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany – is no longer useful to achieve a resolution of the issue within a reasonable amount of time
September 20, 2024
Iraq is a convenient venue for the Houthi leadership to have access to Iranian military advisors as well as to enable the Houthis to recruit non-Yemeni fighters to join their cause
September 18, 2024
Despite severe challenges, there were notable achievements for Iranian women even during the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi, especially in the tech field
September 16, 2024
A new security agreement between Turkey and Iraq reflects Turkey’s long-standing animus toward the PKK and Iraq’s need for water and economic development
September 11, 2024
U.S. sanctions have significantly restricted Iranians' access to safe, paid international VPNs and advanced cybersecurity tools
September 9, 2024
Sanctions, a lack of investment, and mismanagement have plagued the Iranian energy industry for years while Iran's neighbors have been able to increase their energy production capacity over the last two decades
September 5, 2024
If Israel and Iran were to engage in a conventional air war, Khamenei could be pressed to reverse his religious edict banning Iran from producing weapons of mass destruction
September 3, 2024
One month after the assassination of Haniyeh, Iranian authorities are still hard-pressed to explain away the colossal national security bungle
August 28, 2024
