Middle East Institute

A new analysis from the Arab Center Washington DC examines how the 2026 United Nations General Assembly reflects a changing Middle Eastern order, weighing ongoing wars in the region against diplomatic efforts to reshape alliances and settlements. It argues the region's political landscape is being redefined by conflict and by how states position themselves within international institutions.

Gulf states' relations with Washington have been shaken by the ongoing war, according to analysis from the Middle East Institute. The conflict has strained trust between the US and its traditional Arab partners in the Gulf, prompting debate over alignment, security guarantees and the future of American influence in the region. Commentators are weighing how far Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha may recalibrate ties with Washington.

The Middle East Institute has published an analysis examining Turkey's nuclear ambitions in the aftermath of the war involving Iran. The piece considers how the conflict has reshaped regional security calculations and what it means for Ankara's long-debated pursuit of nuclear capability, as Turkish officials weigh deterrence needs against relations with Western partners and the non-proliferation regime.

Analysts are assessing the fallout of the recent Iran war on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, arguing the fighting disrupted political dynamics, ceasefire efforts and regional diplomacy. Commentary from the Middle East Institute examines what has been damaged and what elements of the peace process might still be salvaged as attention returns to Gaza and the West Bank.

The Middle East Institute is examining Iran's internal power structure, asking who is actually in charge in Tehran. The analysis comes amid ongoing questions about decision-making within Iran's leadership, including the role of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the presidency, and the Revolutionary Guards following a period of regional conflict and political uncertainty.

The Middle East Institute argues that recent unforced diplomatic errors in US regional foreign policy could speed up American retrenchment from the Middle East. The analysis warns that avoidable missteps are undermining US credibility with regional partners at a time when Washington's commitment is already being questioned, potentially encouraging allies to hedge toward other powers.

The Middle East Institute has published an analysis examining what the regional order might look like after the Iran war, looking at how power dynamics, alliances and security arrangements across the Middle East could shift in the conflict's aftermath. Commentary is focusing on the war's wider consequences for the region beyond the fighting itself.

The Middle East Institute has published an analysis examining how Gulf states' economic and political accommodation of Iran carries significant costs. The piece weighs regional trade, investment and diplomatic calculations against the risks of engaging Tehran, a debate that continues to shape Gulf security and economic policy amid ongoing tensions in the region.

Analysis from the Middle East Institute examines how Iran's strategic thinking has evolved, drawing lessons from recent regional confrontations and outlining what may come next in Tehran's approach to deterrence, proxies, and negotiations with the West. The piece feeds into an ongoing debate among analysts about how Iran recalibrates after a period of direct clashes and economic pressure.

Qatar has launched a program to train nuclear engineers, drawing concern from the Middle East Media Research Institute. The program raises questions about the Gulf state's nuclear ambitions and the purposes such expertise could serve. Details about the program's scope, partners, and timeline remain limited, and it is not clear how observers beyond MEMRI are responding.