Middle East Focus

With its new government at the half-year mark and the UNIFIL international peacekeeping force’s mandate due for reauthorization at month’s end, Lebanon stands at a pivotal moment. In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Fadi Nicolas Nassar to evaluate whether the Lebanese state can reclaim its sovereignty, starting with the disarmament of Hizballah and the enforcement of a cease-fire. Nassar examines UNIFIL’s evolving mandate for action, the force’s operational limits and posture, and the Lebanese prime minister's Aug. 5 demand for a plan to disarm all non-state militias by the end of the year.   Recorded August 5th, 2025

Mirette Mabrouk, a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute specializing in Egypt’s economic and security issues, delves into the critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its ramifications for Egypt. She discusses Cairo’s concerns over regional stability and domestic outrage. The conversation highlights Egypt's role in ceasefire negotiations and the challenges of aid delivery amid deteriorating conditions. Mabrouk also touches on international perspectives, the complexities of reconstruction plans, and the implications for Palestinian statehood.

Gönül Tol, a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute and expert on Turkish politics, dives into the intricacies of Erdoğan's power dynamics. She discusses how the shifting landscape of regional conflicts like the Israel-Iran war and violence in Syria is influencing Turkey's foreign policy. The conversation highlights the complexities of U.S.-Turkey relations, Erdoğan's domestic challenges, and his crumbling relationship with the opposition. Tol also unpacks the implications of Turkey's peace process with the PKK and the future of democracy in the country.

Welcome to a special Bonus Episode of Middle East Focus.  We're pleased to bring you access to a recent MEI Virtual Briefing recorded on July 23, 2025, on the recent violence in southern Syria. Sectarian clashes in the province of Sweida left hundreds dead and exposed deep-rooted tensions, governance gaps, and the fragility of Syria’s post-Assad transition. MEI Senior Fellow Charles Lister and Associate Fellow Gregory Waters join MEI's Zeina Al-Shaib to unpack the sequence of events that ignited the conflict, the Syrian government's controversial response, Israel's intervention, and the broader implications for Syria's future.

Karen Young, a Senior Fellow at MEI and a researcher at Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy, discusses the resilience of the Gulf economies amidst regional conflict and global uncertainty. She delves into the implications of the Israel-Iran war on energy markets and investment strategies. Young also examines the innovative taxation reforms in Oman and the evolving dynamics between Gulf nations and Iran. Finally, she highlights the Gulf's shift towards renewable energy and strategic investments in BRICS countries, showcasing their pivotal role in a changing global economic landscape.

Mara Rudman, a MEI Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow and former senior advisor in the Clinton and Obama administrations, joins the discussion to dissect the Trump administration's Middle East strategy. She dives into the complexities of Israel-Hamas negotiations and the future of Gaza, as well as U.S.-Iran nuclear diplomacy. Rudman critiques the administration's transactional approach, highlighting the significance of engaging regional partners and the implications of initiatives like the Abraham Accords on broader peace efforts.

Dr. Yoel Guzansky, an associate fellow at the Middle East Institute and expert in Israeli national security, joins the discussion. He dives into Israel's military strategy against Iran, highlighting its airstrikes and the geopolitical balance. Guzansky also reveals how Israeli public sentiment shapes political dynamics during conflict. The conversation touches on shifting relations with the U.S., the implications for Hamas, and hopes for regional normalization. With Netanyahu's impending White House visit, the dialogue ignites questions on future diplomatic paths.

The dust has barely settled following the dramatic 12-day war between Israel and Iran, but its political and strategic reverberations are already shaping the future of the Middle East. In this episode of Middle East Focus, Ross Harrison, senior fellow and book series editor at the Middle East Institute, joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to assess what comes next — from Tehran’s internal power recalibrations to the future of Iran’s forward defense strategy, and shifting regional alliances. Harrison also discusses key themes from his forthcoming book, Decoding Iran’s Foreign Policy (I.B. Tauris), which offers a timely and incisive analysis of how Iran navigates the complex geopolitical landscape. Recorded June 25, 2025

Welcome to a special Bonus Episode of Middle East Focus. We're pleased to bring you access to a recent MEI press briefing on the evolving Israel-Iran conflict, recorded on Wednesday, June 25. You'll hear from MEI's Distinguished Military Fellow Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow Alan Eyre, and Senior Fellow Paul Salem who join MEI's Ken Pollack to discuss the ongoing conflict, in light of the recent proposed ceasefire agreement. They also discuss the recent US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on a US military base, and prospects for de-escalation. This session was on-the-record and open to the public.

Welcome to a special Bonus Episode of Middle East Focus. We're pleased to bring you access to a recent MEI press briefing on the evolving Israel-Iran conflict, recorded on June 16, 2025. You'll hear from MEI’s Distinguished Diplomatic Fellows Barbara A. Leaf and Alan Eyre, as well as our Distinguished Military Fellow Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., USMC (ret.), who bring decades of firsthand experience working on Iran policy and regional security issues. The discussion was moderated by Kenneth Pollack, MEI's VP for Policy. Their analysis offers insights into the rapidly developing events shaping the conflict and highlights the critical indicators we should be watching for as this situation continues to unfold.