Iran’s Axis of Resistance after the 12-day war: Adaptation, restructuring, and reconstitution
Since Israel’s 12-day war against Iran, Tehran and its network of regional proxies and non-state allies, the so-called Axis of Resistance, have entered a phase of strategic dormancy — an outward calm concealing rearmament, financial adaptation, and ideological renewal.
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a prime time address to the nation this evening at a moment when public support for his second term has hit new lows. Speculation about the focus of the president’s speech ranges from efforts to shore up views about his poor handling of the economy at home to perhaps a major announcement on Venezuela, where Trump imposed a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers. But no matter the topic Trump chooses to frame the national conversation as America heads into the holiday season, it is worth taking a step back and reflecting on the bigger story of what has occurred in the United States in 2025 and how these dynamics affect America’s relations with the rest of the world, including the Middle East.
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Israeli Formal and De Facto West Bank Annexation: Regional Consequences and US Policy Implications
Join us for a webinar conversation with Ms. Zaha Hassan, Ambassador (ret.) Yael Lempert, and Colonel (res.) Ron Shatzberg to unpack the consequences of Israeli annexation of the West Bank and its implications for US regional policy.
Join us for the closing celebration of MEI's Arab Pop Art exhibition, featuring a live performance by Syrian-American rapper, spoken word poet, and storyteller Omar Offendum.
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.
Has Pakistan agreed to use nuclear force to defend Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact on September 17, 2025, declaring that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” The wording of the agreement sparked speculation that Pakistan might use its nuclear capabilities to defend Saudi Arabia. MEI’s F. Gregory Gause contends otherwise, offering insight into the history and strategic calculations driving the deal. To learn more about the deal, visit our website.
