Policy Analysis

Patrick Clawson, Mehdi Khalaji, Michael Eisenstadt, Matthew Levitt, and Michael Singh have contributed material to this important ongoing project on Iran.

Through professional military education, exchange-officer programs, and U.S.-based exercises, Washington can gain long-term influence with partner militaries throughout the Middle East and North Africa at modest cost.

Aaron Zelin, a Washington Institute expert on jihadist movements, joined with Evan Kohlmann and Laith al-Khouri of Flashpoint Global Partners to prepare this study charting the evolving role of Sunni foreign fighters in Syria's ongoing war. Below is an excerpt; download the PDF to read the full report, complete with

Given the regime's renewed offensive capabilities, delaying foreign military assistance any further is a recipe for more rebel defeats.

Notwithstanding current hostilities, there is a long history of cooperation between Sunni and Shiite extremists.

Anything short of Assad's defeat would be a setback not only for Syrians, but also for America and Europe.

The director of the Institute's Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence addressed the Canadian parliament regarding Iranian-sponsored violence at home and abroad. The following is an excerpt from his prepared remarks; download the PDF to read the full testimony. In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and

Enlisting Afghan locals in their own defense offers a more sustainable model for combating the Taliban in rural areas.

Hezbollah's commitment to the Syrian conflict will likely change the course of the war.

The war in Syria could bring Ankara and Washington closer together.

It is late 2013 and Israel's prime minister has just received a phone call from the White House relaying the findings of a recent U.S. intelligence assessment: neither international sanctions nor negotiations have persuaded Iran to halt its nuclear program. What should they do? This scenario is the launching point

Even as it prods Egypt's political actors to dial down the tension, Washington should help the country's military leaders prepare for even greater instability.

As the conflict in Syria rivets international attention, Iran's nuclear program continues apace. Unfortunately, while the Iranians install the next generation of centrifuges -- machines that can produce enriched uranium three to four times faster than before -- the "P5+1" negotiations on Iran's nuclear program have ground once again to

Sectarian flames are melting away Turkey's hard-earned soft power in the Middle East and pushing Ankara closer to Washington.

Ayatollah Khamenei is determined to push for a completely loyal president, but the decision to dismiss Rafsanjani could undermine the regime in the long run.

The MFO faces growing pressure in the Sinai, but its presence remains crucial to maintaining peace between Egypt and Israel.

Institute Baker fellow and energy expert Simon Henderson led a conversation at the 2013 Soref Symposium on May 9, 2013, on the rapidly evolving energy landscape in the Middle East within the context of Israel's emergence as a regional energy producer. Sir Michael Leigh is consultant and senior advisor to

The Washington Institute made the full text of the IAEA's May 22, 2013 report on Iran's nuclear program available. Click on the button to the left to download the report (PDF).

The factional disputes that have long paralyzed Iranian policymaking will likely persist after the upcoming election, leaving the regime with no choice but to persist in its diplomatic standoff with the West.

Washington Institute fellow Eric Trager sat down with Foreign Policy Association blogger Reza Akhlaghi to discuss how Egypt's leaders view Iran's regional strategy and the upcoming presidential election.