Middle East Focus

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.

Senior Fellow Alex Vatanka joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to examine the dramatic escalation between Israel and Iran following Israel’s targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, infrastructure, and senior IRGC officials. Vatanka discusses how the Iranian regime is responding, the risk of wider regional conflict, and whether the current campaign could mark the beginning of the end for the Islamic Republic.   Recorded June 17, 2025

MEI Senior Fellow Paul Salem joins the program to assess Lebanon’s rapidly shifting political landscape. With a new president and government promising to enact reforms and reassert sovereignty, Lebanon faces a daunting agenda: disarming Hizballah, rebuilding institutions, navigating regional diplomacy, and restoring the economy. Salem offers on-the-ground insight from Beirut, unpacks the fragility of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, and outlines how international actors--from the US to Iran--are shaping the country’s future. Recorded June 9, 2025

What’s next for Gaza—and for Israel? In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj sit down with Ghaith al-Omari, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former advisor to the Palestinian Authority, to unpack the urgent humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza, the impact of Israeli settlement expansion, and what these developments mean for the future of the region.  Recorded June 3, 2025