The unresolved crises unfolding on the Israeli-Palestinian front — a growing humanitarian disaster inside of the Gaza Strip, the horrific images of emaciated Israelis held hostage by terrorists in the coastal strip, and ongoing tensions in Jerusalem and …
The monarchical Arab Gulf states emerged on the other side of last June’s Israeli and US attacks on Iran largely unscathed, with the important exception of a limited, retaliatory Iranian missile strike on the American airbase in Qatar. However, in a larger …
The Persian miniature is characterized by a critical kinship between text and image. Most profoundly, the miniature is formed by a strong history of the poetic verse, mythology, epic narrative, and lyricism, establishing the link between poetics and the …
Hassan Hajjaj Omar Offendum, 2013/1434 (2013). Courtesy of the artist and Yossi Milo Gallery, New York. The MEI Art Gallery is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition, Arab Pop Art: Between East and West, featuring the work of thirteen artists from the …
President Masoud Pezeshkian’s first year in office was defined by Iran’s familiar political structural constraints, external crises, and a moderate-reformist base forever frustrated with his cautious pragmatism and unfulfilled promises. His July 2024 …
Amid the intense focus on missiles, escalation dynamics, and geopolitical fallout during the June 13-24 war between Iran and Israel, the cyber dimension — especially as it concerned Iranian actions — received comparatively little attention. Yet beneath the …
With the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza in the global spotlight, Egypt faces mounting pressure both at home and abroad. In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj speak with MEI Senior Fellow Mirette Mabrouk about how …
I. Executive Summary This report is part of a regular, quarterly assessment that includes a report card with grades on five key policy areas based on the United States’ leading national security interests in the Middle East and priorities set by the …
Daniel Silverberg and Elisa Ewers—two veterans of Capitol Hill and the executive branch—join Brian for a candid conversation about the shifting politics of US Middle East policy inside the Democratic Party. Drawing on decades of experience shaping national …
After almost two years of fighting in Gaza, and after the decimation of Hizballah, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, and the 12-day Israeli-American war on Iran, the Middle East is in new strategic and political territory. Two pathways lie …
In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Gönül Tol to discuss how shifting regional dynamics — from the Israel-Iran war to renewed violence in southern Syria — are reshaping Turkey’s …
Welcome to a special Bonus Episode of Middle East Focus. We're pleased to bring you access to a recent MEI Virtual Briefing, recorded on July 23, 2025, on the recent violence in southern Syria. Sectarian clashes in the province of Sweida left hundreds …
Amid sustained regional conflict and global uncertainty, the Arab Gulf states are navigating a shifting economic and strategic landscape with surprising resilience. MEI Senior Fellow Karen Young joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to break down …
Probably few if any Middle East analysts had Israeli airstrikes targeting key government installations of the Syrian state on their summer 2025 bingo cards — especially given that President Donald Trump and many of the United States’ Arab partners had …
The MENA Energy Recap is a quarterly review of key energy developments that took place in the region from April through June of 2025 and what they signal in the months ahead. The Recap views these developments through the lens of policy and strategy, …
Could this be the beginning of a new chapter for Iran’s foreign policy—and for its pro-democracy movement? Gönül Tol speaks with Dr. Vali Nasr, one of the world's leading experts on the Middle East, to unpack the aftermath of the 12-Day War. Together, …
As missiles rained down on Iranian nuclear sites and the specter of regional escalation loomed large, China’s response underscored its ambition to shape global affairs while simultaneously exposing the constraints of that ambition. This conflict became a …
As the Trump administration marks six months in office, it is pursuing a flurry of diplomatic initiatives across the Middle East — some publicly coordinated, others shaped behind closed doors. MEI Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow Mara Rudman joins hosts …
US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time in his second term this week, shortly after securing a major victory for his domestic policy agenda in the budget bill passed by Congress. Netanyahu’s visit comes …
The announcement of a cease-fire between Iran and Israel, after 12 days of war, was met with relief in Pakistan. As tensions escalated between the two archrivals, particularly following the June 21 US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Pakistan’s …
