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3 Things I'm Watching: Dana Stroul

As President Trump weighs the risks of escalation and the prospects of diplomacy, here are three things Institute Research Director Dana Stroul is watching.

Find more analysis by Dana Stroul.

U.S. and Israeli cabinet members meet at the White House - source: The White House

Don’t Mistake Friction for a Broken Alliance with Israel

Presidential spats with Israeli prime ministers are nothing new, and scapegoating America’s most capable ally in the Middle East would mean more work for U.S. forces, not less.

Jun 16, 2026

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Michael Singh

Ships gather in waters off the Iranian island of Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz - source: Reuters

How to Isolate Tehran

To reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the latest dip in the Iran roller coaster, the Trump administration will need to marry renewed blockade efforts with a more collective-minded diplomatic approach.

Jul 17, 2026

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Dennis Ross

A dignitary lies in state with an honor guard at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda - source: Architect of the Capitol

Lindsey Graham’s Last Gift to the U.S.-Israel Alliance

A White House meeting facilitated by the senator’s funeral could let Trump and Netanyahu avoid the appearance of a wartime rift.

Jul 25, 2026

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David Makovsky

The Board of Peace: Between Ambition and Distraction

An in-depth look at why the board’s lack of progress in Gaza makes it unlikely to serve its envisioned role of resolving conflicts around the world.

June 2026

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Ghaith al-Omari

The Middle East Power Paradox: How the Iran War Will Transform America’s Military Role

Although the U.S. military approach to the region has delivered many operational successes, the Iran war has exposed its serious shortcomings and created new challenges.

Jun 16, 2026

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Dana Stroul

Russia Is Not Leaving Syria

While it no longer enjoys primacy in Damascus, the Kremlin has proven itself able to adapt to the new reality, and Washington must play the long game in response.

Jul 27, 2026

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Kuwait and the Future of U.S. Power Projection

Given the country’s difficult experience during the Iran war, Washington should offer sustained political attention, practical assistance, and an expanded vision for the partnership’s future.

Jul 28, 2026

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Elizabeth Dent

Institute Expertise on Israel and the Palestinians

Dennis Ross

Ambassador Dennis Ross, the Institute's Counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow, played a leading role shaping U.S. Middle East policy in the George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and Obama administrations.

David Makovsky

The Institute's Siegler Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Project on Arab-Israel Relations, David Makovsky is a veteran journalist who served as senior advisor to the State Department's Special Envoy for Israel-Palestinian Relations.

Ghaith al-Omari

A former Palestinian Authority peace negotiator, Ghaith al-Omari is the Institute's Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow.

Dana Stroul

The Institute's Director of Research and Michael Kassen Senior Fellow, Dana Stroul was deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East policy during the Biden administration.

Interactive Map: Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region

Explore this new interactive tool to shed light on the actions of actors such as Iran and Yemen's Houthis that have threatened and attacked commercial shipping in the waters off the Middle East and North Africa.

Access the map.

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Interactive Maps

Screen shot of the Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region interactive map

Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region (Since 2017)

Shed light on the actions of actors such as Iran and Yemen's Houthis that have threatened and attacked commercial shipping in the waters off the Middle East and North Africa.

Screenshot of the Hezbollah External Operations Interactive Map

Lebanese Hezbollah Select Worldwide Activity

Access this interactive map to explore an open-source database of Hezbollah global operations and break through the terrorist organization's "Golden Rule" of secrecy.

Screenshot of the Islamic State Worldwide Activity interactive map

The Islamic State Select Worldwide Activity

Explore the most comprehensive public archive of Islamic State attack data, media output, government designations, and legal cases to understand the organization’s global reach,

Screenshot of the Iran External Operations interactive map

Iran External Operations 1979-present

Access this powerful interactive tool, which maps over forty-five years of Iranian clandestine operations around the globe.

Video: America and the Middle East at 250 with Dr. Martin Kramer

Historian Martin Kramer, the Walter P. Stern Fellow at The Washington Institute, explains how America's early leaders navigated the republic's first encounters with the Middle East—and hears some echoes of today's policy dilemmas.

Recently in Fikra Forum

A satellite map with political borders overlaid shows Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

After War, a Crackdown in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan Province

Recent crackdowns against Iran's Baloch minority over tensions around mining in the province suggest that the rift between the regime and many Baloch is deepening in the post-war period.

Jul 8, 2026

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Samand Muhammadshahi

Fikra Forum

The Iran War's Pressure on the Egyptian Pound: Fragile Stability and Expected Shocks

The Egyptian pound is weathering significant challenges to its stability as the Iran war continues to impact oil markets and Egypt's revenue streams, raising concerns about the longterm impact of continued conflict.

Jun 10, 2026

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Heba El Koudsy

Sanctions and Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood: Decoupling Burhan from Sudan’s Islamists and Iran

Sanctioning Sudan's Muslim Brotherhood will likely have an impact on Burhan's approach to the group, but a true decoupling will

Apr 17, 2026

In Syria, an Amnesty Decree Without Justice?

The debates sparked by Decree No. 39 raise questions about how the country will bridge the troubling gaps between official

Apr 8, 2026

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

In Focus: Iran

The sun sets behind U.S. and Kuwaiti flags at Ali Al Salem AFB in Kuwait - source: Department of Defense

Kuwait and the Future of U.S. Power Projection

Given the country’s difficult experience during the Iran war, Washington should offer sustained political attention, practical assistance, and an expanded vision for the partnership’s future.

Jul 28, 2026

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Elizabeth Dent

Lindsey Graham’s Last Gift to the U.S.-Israel Alliance

A White House meeting facilitated by the senator’s funeral could let Trump and Netanyahu avoid the appearance of a wartime rift.

Jul 25, 2026

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David Makovsky

Screen grab showing an Iranian warehouse where Shahed-136 drone airframes are being assembled.

Changing Iran’s Coercive Calculus Requires More Than Massing U.S. Forces

Regardless of where the current round of escalation goes, Tehran will continue using ceasefires, front-loaded sanctions waivers, and tit-for-tat attack

Jul 24, 2026