Webcast | After the "Hammer": Postwar Opportunities and Risks for U.S. Policy in the Middle East

Watch an expert webcast examining potential next steps for the Trump administration in the Middle East. 

 

Learn more about this event.

Institute Analysis of the Iran-Israel-U.S. Confrontation

Iran’s Retaliation: Choreography, Escalation Management, and the Mirage of “All-Out” War
Fears of an “all-out” war with Iran have been greatly overstated, and they fail to account for the Islamic Republic’s overriding desire to avoid such an outcome and the diverse repertoire it has developed to prevent one.
Jun 25, 2025
  • Michael Eisenstadt
The Bigger Picture in the Iran-Israel Conflict: Russia, Missiles, Militias, and More
Four experts assess how outside players might respond to the showdown, and whether Tehran will switch up its calculus on procurement, attack tactics, and other military matters as the fight goes on.
Jun 23, 2025
  • Anna Borshchevskaya
  • Michael Knights
  • Farzin Nadimi
  • Assaf Orion
U.S. Attacks Iranian Nuclear Sites: Implications for Israel, the Middle East, and U.S. Policy
Two veteran U.S. officials join a former Israeli ambassador to discuss the effects and future consequences of the Trump administration’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear program.
Jun 25, 2025
  • Dana Stroul
  • Michael Herzog
  • Dennis Ross
  • Robert Satloff
Energy and Economic Implications of the Iran-Israel Conflict
Three experts explore the war’s impact on global energy markets, Iran-Gulf relations, President Trump’s oil price calculations, and more.
Jun 27, 2025
  • Homayoun Falakshahi
  • Jennifer Gnana
  • Gregory Brew

Recent Institute Analysis

Syrian Christians demonstrate in Damascus following the suicide bombing of the Mar Elias church - source: Reuters
The Damascus Church Attack: Who Is Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah?
Although definitively identifying the group responsible for the bombing may take more time, authorities in Damascus and Washington already have more than enough information to beef up their security cooperation and reassure Syrian minorities that they won’t be targeted.
Jun 25, 2025
  • Aaron Y. Zelin

In-Depth Studies

Navigating the Syria Sanctions Conundrum
Washington should act quickly to facilitate transactions for key sectors such as electricity, food, and rubble removal, lest public discontent lead to widespread protests and possibly government collapse.
Mar 5, 2025
  • Matthew Levitt
Building on Momentum in U.S.-Turkey Relations
The two leaders can use their personal rapport to solve bilateral and regional problems, but they will also face tough challenges in matters such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and dealings with China.
Feb 5, 2025
  • Soner Cagaptay
Policy Steps to Prevent a Nuclear Iran
Rather than choosing between diplomacy and military action, the Trump administration should think of these options as mutually supportive, sequencing its actions in hopes of achieving the best and least costly outcome.
Jan 28, 2025
  • Michael Singh
Semiconductors, AI, and the Gulf:
In seeking to bolster partnerships and simultaneously protect U.S. technology, officials will need to navigate export options ranging from permissive to restrictive.
Nov 18, 2024
  • Elizabeth Dent
  • Grant Rumley

Interactive Map: ISIS Global Activity

Interactive Tool: Tracking Maritime Attacks in Middle East Waters Since 2019

Arab Public Opinion 2014 to Today

Fikra Interactive Public Polling Platform Thumbnail
Maps & Graphics
TWI Interactive Polling Platform
Interactive datasets, from 2014 to today
Jun 30, 2022