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.
Pakistan's initiative is undermined by its own political limitations vis-à-vis both Iran and the United States
April 9, 2026
It is becoming increasingly likely that the war will end without any of its primary objectives having been fully achieved — a military success but strategic failure.
April 6, 2026
Given the month-long delay, the Houthis' missile launch reads less as an operational decision than as a political one
March 30, 2026
Israel’s assassination campaign has led to the promotion of IRGC old-timers who are likely to prove more hostile to the U.S. and less nimble in negotiating an end to the war
March 26, 2026
GCC states are moving toward a more confrontational posture with long-term negative ramifications for relations with Iran
March 25, 2026
Saudi Arabia’s evolving nuclear calculus reflects not only Iran’s program but also eroding U.S. security guarantees
March 23, 2026
The crisis has shifted from a logistical bottleneck to a structural supply shock, with far more severe implications for global energy stability
March 19, 2026
As the war with Iran expands into a broader regional conflict, the Stimson Center's Environmental Security Program spoke with two leading experts on civilian infrastructure targeting in the Middle East to put last weekend's strikes in context
March 11, 2026
