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.
While public discourse has focused on President Raisi's sudden death, the deeper question lies in who will succeed Supreme Leader Khamenei
May 22, 2024
The U.S. should take advantage of this fragility, not to destabilize the country further, but to promote constructive solutions to a host of problems
May 21, 2024
Raisi's death scrambles Iran's political scene at a time of popular discontent and regional instability and complicates the path to succession
May 20, 2024
After a flurry of attacks between Israel and Iran, fears are mounting that nuclear sites in both countries could be future targets
May 15, 2024
Iranians who otherwise supported protests in the U.S. decided to remain silent in reaction to government propaganda and focused on their own plight
May 13, 2024
To enhance cooperation on water management and a new trade corridor, Iraq has given Turkey permission to mount a major military operation against the PKK in northern Iraq
May 9, 2024
Regarding succession, Ebrahim Raisi or Alireza Arafi are more likely to succeed Ali Khamenei than his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
May 7, 2024
With the U.S. and its partners at odds, U.S. economic and political power allowed it to stand alone against the international community
May 3, 2024
