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The Gulf Cooperation Council
GCC flag. Source: Rico Shen via Wikipedia
  • Backgrounder
  • The Gulf Cooperation Council

    This backgrounder provides an overview of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional political and economic alliance comprising six states in the Arabian Peninsula: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

    June 18, 2026

    A Strategic Conundrum: Pakistan’s Transit Corridor to Iran as Lifeline or Liability
  • Analysis
  • A Strategic Conundrum: Pakistan’s Transit Corridor to Iran as Lifeline or Liability

    The US-Iran standoff over the Strait of Hormuz — disruptive to global trade and energy flows, and devastating for debt-burdened economies — has handed Pakistan an unexpected geoeconomic opportunity, one that may persist even if the framework agreement announced on June 14 results in a lasting peace and permanent reopening of the strait. But seizing it will have interlocking consequences for Islamabad’s ties with Tehran, Washington, and the Gulf states.

    June 17, 2026

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    Iran Test-Fires New Missiles during Latest Navy Drills amid Rising Tension with U.S.
  • Analysis
  • Iran Test-Fires New Missiles during Latest Navy Drills amid Rising Tension with U.S.

    The Iranian Navy on Sunday launched large-scale maritime exercises near the strategic Strait of Hormuz by showcasing warships, submarines and attack helicopters as well as test-firing new, advanced missiles. According to the Iranian media, the naval drills marked the last phase of Iranian Navy’s annual war game – dubbed “Velayat 95” – and covered an area of two million square kilometers, stretching from the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman to north of the Indian Ocean and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

    February 27, 2017

    Iran's Foreign Minister Hails I.R.G.C.’s Role in Middle East Wars
  • Analysis
  • Iran's Foreign Minister Hails I.R.G.C.’s Role in Middle East Wars

    As the Trump administration is considering designating Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” two senior Iranian civilian leaders have strongly defended the I.R.G.C.’s military involvement in the Middle Eastern conflicts. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif this weekend praised the I.R.G.C.’s efforts to fight “terrorism” in the region and argued that Washington’s threat of designating Iran’s elite military unit will be futile.

    February 27, 2017

    Zarif Uses Farhadi’s Oscar Victory To Attack Trump But Remains Silent on Repression against Artists at Home
  • Analysis
  • Zarif Uses Farhadi’s Oscar Victory To Attack Trump But Remains Silent on Repression against Artists at Home

    While the Iranian hardline media largely ignored the Oscar victory by the country’s world-renowned director Asghar Farhadi, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif hailed Farhadi’s accomplishment and used the occasion to attack the Trump administration’s plan to temporarily ban immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations, including Iran.

    February 27, 2017

    Arab Daily Questions Sincerity of Tehran’s Diplomatic Outreach
  • Analysis
  • Arab Daily Questions Sincerity of Tehran’s Diplomatic Outreach

    An article published yesterday in Saudi daily Al Jazirah questioned the sincerity of President Hassan Rouhani’s diplomatic outreach to the Gulf Arab countries and called the Iranian president’s recent trip to Oman and Kuwait a “public relations” campaign to portray a positive image of Iran to domestic and international aud

    February 24, 2017

    Iran’s Scathing Attack on Turkey as Syria Peace Talks Begin in Geneva
  • Analysis
  • Iran’s Scathing Attack on Turkey as Syria Peace Talks Begin in Geneva

    In the latest episode of escalating diplomatic tension between Tehran and Ankara, Iran’s foreign minister today blasted latest statements by Turkish officials accusing Iran of destabilizing the Middle East and fueling sectarian divide in the region.

    February 24, 2017

    The Gulf and the Struggle for Hegemony
    Middle East Institute

    The Gulf and the Struggle for Hegemony

    February 23 – January 1, 1970, February 23 - 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
    January 1 - 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM

    Middle East Institute , 1319 18th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

    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.