Middle East Institute

The Middle East Beyond the Iran War
  • Special Report

    • The Middle East Beyond the Iran War

    September 28, 2026

    This collection of short essays written by the Fellows of the Middle East Institute explores various aspects of the war with Iran. The intent is to help readers see new and unexpected elements of the dynamics and impact of the ongoing hostilities and to think harder, deeper, and broader about the implications of the conflict.

    From the Middle East to Middle America: Engineering Better Policy with Andrew J. Tabler
  • Podcast

    • From the Middle East to Middle America: Engineering Better Policy with Andrew J. Tabler

    Brian sits down with Andrew J. Tabler, the Martin J. Gross Senior Fellow in the Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics at The Washington Institute, to trace his unique and distinctive path from Oil City, Pennsylvania, to fourteen years living and working in the Middle East. Tabler discusses his time in Syria under the Assad regime, his service as director for Syria at the National Security Council and as senior advisor to the Special Envoy for Syria Engagement at the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in the first Trump administration, and explains how these experiences shaped his perspective and inspired him to found the Drake Energy Forum.

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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.

    Policy Experts

    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

    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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    Read the Middle East Journal

    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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    Featured Events

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    New York Arabic Orchestra at Wolf Trap
  • Arts & Culture

    • New York Arabic Orchestra at Wolf Trap

    Co-produced by the Middle East Institute Arts & Culture Center and Abu Dhabi Festival

    December 4, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

    The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road Vienna, VA 22182

    Featured Experts

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    Podcasts

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    Backgrounders

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    The Houthis
  • Backgrounder

    • The Houthis

    The Houthis are a political-military faction and Zaydi religious movement founded in northwestern Yemen in the 1980s. A key member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance with links to other militant organizations in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the group has continued to pose a threat to Western interests on a global scale.

    May 15, 2026

    Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
  • Backgrounder

    • Israeli Settlements in the West Bank

    Since 1967, Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been a contested feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ultimate disposition of the settlements and ongoing activity related to their growth have repeatedly defied agreement in negotiations over a resolution to the conflict.

    June 9, 2026