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.
Shamkhani's effectiveness aroused some jealousy and his Saudi mediation, in particular, caused disputes between the security council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
May 25, 2023
Jordan has gained little from its diplomatic outreach to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Trade remains stagnant, Southwest Syria remains deeply unstable and the drug captagon still floods Jordan
May 25, 2023
Tehran’s current composure is not turbulence-free, and there are various factors that still worry Iran, for starters, Syria’s profound economic crisis
May 24, 2023
The shift toward bipolarity can be seen in the Middle East as powers that traditionally allied with the West are hedging in favor of Beijing and countries that sought to balance between East and West are going all-in on China
May 22, 2023
Syria’s readmission to the Arab League crowned by a summit on May 19 in Saudi Arabia is a failure for U.S. values and interests that must be addressed with a new policy that prioritizes the Syrian people
May 18, 2023
The continuing crackdown coincides with a record number of executions in Iran, many for unrelated matters such as drug offenses. The high number of executions is meant to be a deterrent, a fear factor, like the recent execution of two people convicted of apostasy
May 15, 2023
Regional powers lack capacity to become hegemons and so are forming new arrangements as middle powers that seek solutions in areas where the US lacks leverage
May 10, 2023
Contacts continue to free US and other hostages and to encourage Iran to increase transparency about its nuclear advances. It is already too late for a military solution and Iran’s other challenges also defy simple remedies.
May 8, 2023
