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.
What Mojtaba Khamenei’s succession could mean for Iran’s politics, regional posture, and relations with the United States
March 11, 2026
While the Islamic Republic spent billions on missiles and regional military adventures, it failed to build and maintain an effective air defense system
March 9, 2026
Will Iran move toward accelerated weaponization, strategic recalibration within a threshold posture, or a redefinition of its nuclear ambitions altogether?
March 9, 2026
Iran’s retaliation has expanded the conflict across the Middle East. Stimson Center Distinguished Fellow Barbara Slavin explains the growing regional risks and the uncertain future of Iran’s leadership
March 5, 2026
A fierce but brittle regime can hang on for a long time in the absence of a unified, national opposition enjoying outside help
March 5, 2026
The next few days will indicate whether the Houthis will follow their ideology or turn inward
March 3, 2026
A soft closure of the Strait of Hormuz can inflict much of the same damage as a declared blockade
March 3, 2026
Rebuilding Iran’s proxy network is going to be challenging given the structural shifts that have eroded its foundations
March 2, 2026
