The war with Iran is hardly over, but the debate over the shape and nature of the post-conflict American posture in the Gulf region is just beginning. Undoubtedly, how the war ends will affect how the ...

With less than a week before the midterm elections in the United States, the spotlight is on the economy and cultural divides. US foreign policy remains mostly on the sidelines, but this year’s ...

Mehrdad Akhlaghi was appointed defense minister in October 2026 by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. He is an unusual choice, as, unlike most of his predecessors, he does not come from a uniformed ...

On March 1, 2026, debris from an intercepted aerial object ignited a fire at a berth in Jebel Ali, the Middle East’s largest container port. Port operator DP World temporarily suspended terminal ...

This individual is a guest contributor. MEI is not able to assist with contact requests. Hunter Stoll is a defense analyst at the RAND Corporation and a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve. He holds an ...

Dr. Liam Collins is the executive director of the Viola Foundation, the executive director of the Madison Policy Forum, a senior fellow with New America, and a permanent member with the Council on ...

Join MEI’s Arts and Culture Center for a live performance by pioneering duo Sons of Yusuf, brothers Ya’koob and AbdulRahman, who blend rap with traditional Arabic instruments, poetry, and storytelling ...

Alex Vatanka is a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute. He specializes in Middle Eastern regional security affairs with a particular focus on Iran. He was formerly a Senior Analyst at Jane’s ...

Ross Harrison is a senior fellow and book series editor at the Middle East Institute (MEI). He is also a faculty member in the Political Science Department at the University of Pittsburgh, where he ...

Professor Chuck Freilich served for over 20 years in Israel’s national security establishment, as a senior analyst and a deputy national security adviser. After leaving government, he was a long-time ...

Jonathan “Jonny” Gannon retired during the summer of 2025 as a senior executive at CIA. Originally an operative, he has over 26 years of experience navigating national security challenges and building ...