Middle East Institute

Iran’s New Grand Design: The Next Evolution of the Axis of Resistance
  • Analysis

    • Iran’s New Grand Design: The Next Evolution of the Axis of Resistance

    Iran is transforming its Axis of Resistance into a decentralized, Yemen-centered network that leverages the Houthis to threaten both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, extending Tehran’s coercive reach over the world’s key maritime chokepoints and reshaping the post-war balance in the Middle East and Red Sea.

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    The Latest on War with Iran

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    Our Mission

    The Middle East Institute aims to enhance peace, security, and people-to-people ties between the US and the Middle East by providing actionable foreign policy recommendations, rich cultural and educational programming, and opportunities for dialogue, engagement, and exchange.

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    Policy Experts

    MEI has a deep roster of Fellows and Distinguished Fellows with extensive experience in military, diplomatic, and policy leadership.

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    Research & Analysis

    Research & Analysis

    Read in-depth research, analysis, and commentary from MEI’s fellows and experts on the Middle East.

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    Arts & Culture

    MEI’s Arts & Culture Center sits at the intersection of culture and policy, providing a platform for a deeper understanding of the Middle East. 

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    The oldest peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East, MEI’s flagship journal covers politics, society, and culture in the region.

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    MEI Art Gallery – August First Friday Open House
  • Arts & Culture

    • MEI Art Gallery – August First Friday Open House

    Join us at our last First Friday Open House to see our exhibition Beyond the Weave: Contemporary Dialogues with AlSadu.

    August 7, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    MEI Art Gallery - 1763 N St NW, Washington DC 20036

    Sons of Yusuf
  • Arts & Culture
  • Event

    • Sons of Yusuf

    Join us for the closing celebration of MEI's Beyond the Weave exhibition, featuring a live performance by pioneering Kuwaiti hip-hop duo Sons of Yusuf.

    August 7, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    The MEI Art Gallery, 1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

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    What’s behind Sudan’s humanitarian crisis?
  • Video

    • What’s behind Sudan’s humanitarian crisis?

    After the Rapid Support Forces’ seizure of al-Fashir, the capital of the North Darfur State and the last remaining stronghold of the Sudanese army, the conflict in Sudan has once again drawn international attention. This development is the latest in a devastating civil war that has lasted over two years. MEI’s Jehanne Henry unpacks the origins of the conflict, the humanitarian situation on the ground, and what needs to happen in the future.

    November 14, 2025

    OPEC and OPEC+
    Source: Simon Dawson/ Bloomberg via Getty Images
  • Backgrounder

    • OPEC and OPEC+

    This backgrounder provides an overview of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including its history, structure, and function, and the US government’s approach to the organization.

    November 24, 2025