A satellite view of the Persian Gulf - source: NASA

UNDERSTAND EVERY FRONT OF THE IRAN WAR

Webcast Thursday: Diplomatic Priorities in the Iran War

Join us for an expert webcast exploring diplomatic tools available to policymakers as the Iran war enters its fifth week. Featuring Emily Harding, Richard Nephew, Michael Singh, and Nancy A. Youssef. Watch live starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

 

Learn more about this event. 

Will Iran Turn to Terrorism?
With its leadership badly damaged and its security establishment humiliated by deep intelligence infiltration, the desperate regime likely sees little downside in setting caution aside and greenlighting a wide variety of international attacks.
Mar 24, 2026
  • Matthew Levitt
Military Options for Reopening the Strait of Hormuz: Limitations and Imperatives
Loosening Tehran’s grip on the strait and its disruption of the global economy would entail not only reducing threats to navigation, but also increasing pressure on the Iranian economy in order to deter further attacks and create leverage for diplomacy.
Mar 23, 2026
  • Michael Eisenstadt
  • Assaf Orion
Zolghadr at the Top of Iranian Security
His appointment as SNSC secretary shows that the regime is relying on a veteran hardliner to manage crisis and preserve control.
Mar 26, 2026
  • Farzin Nadimi
With the Iran War, Hamas Tilts Toward the Brotherhood
The monthlong conflict and developments in Gaza have weakened the terrorist group’s connection to Tehran, offering Washington an opportunity to achieve its goals by working through Qatar and Turkey as well as Egypt.
Mar 26, 2026
  • Ghaith al-Omari

Interactive Map: Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region

Recent Institute Analysis

Syrian Army recruits attend their graduation ceremony from special forces training - source: Reuters
Syria Is Not Ready to Wage War Beyond Its Borders
The U.S. metric for effective cooperation shouldn’t be whether Syria is willing to fight Iran’s proxies in Lebanon or Iraq, but whether it continues advancing regional stability by securing its borders, limiting the flow of Iranian weapons and fighters, and coordinating politically with neighbors.
Mar 24, 2026
  • Andrew J. Tabler

Study: Russia in the Middle East

Montage: Presidents Sisi (Egypt) and Putin (Russia) at the 2024 BRICS summit; a woman holds a Russian flag in Istanbul; a Russia House cultural center in Syria; a map image superimposing Russian flag over Africa/Middle East.
Maps & Graphics
After Ukraine:
Moscow has cultivated ties with U.S. adversaries and allies alike, and Washington must respond by advancing a holistic policy that empowers Ukrainian commercial interests and addresses deficits in sanctions policy.
Jan 23, 2026
  • Anna Borshchevskaya
  • Matt Tavares

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