Middle East Focus

Middle East Institute
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Weekly discussion of Middle East policy, arts, and culture, featuring experts from the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.

  1. HACE 1 DÍA

    As Iran Weakens, Can Hamas Survive?

    MEI Senior Fellow Jaser AbuMousa joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack how Hamas is navigating the US-Israel conflict with Iran and its impact on Gaza. Two and a half years after the start of the Gaza war, international attention has shifted away from the humanitarian crisis in the devastated coastal strip. Meanwhile, Hamas' primary state sponsor, Iran, has been severely weakened by US-Israeli military strikes and the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. AbuMousa examines how this could affect Hamas' trajectory moving forward and its place within the Axis of Resistance, as well as what it all means for the Palestinian people.   Read Jaser's argument for why now is the time to focus on Gaza here, and his analysis of the power struggle within Hamas following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei here.   Recorded on March 24, 2026.

    38 min

  2. 19 MAR

    Why the Houthis are Holding Back — For Now

    Despite claiming they are poised to attack, the Yemeni Houthis have yet to join Iran and its other proxies in their fight against the United States and Israel. Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj speak to MEI Associate Fellow Nadwa Al-Dawsari to unpack why the Houthis continue to stay on the sidelines of the Iran war and what might prompt them to join the fray. They also discuss the Houthis' evolving role within the Axis of Resistance, what the Yemeni group has learned from its earlier rounds of direct conflict with Israel and the US, as well as whether its actions could precipitate a renewed flareup in Yemen's civil war.    Find Nadwa's analysis of why the Houthis have stayed out of the Iran war here.   Recorded on March 17, 2026.

    40 min

  3. 12 MAR

    Can Turkey Stay Out of the Iran War?

    Nearly two weeks into the US and Israel's war with Iran, MEI Senior Fellow Gönül Tol joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to explore the impact of the widening regional conflict on Turkey. On March 9, Ankara announced that NATO air defenses shot down a second Iranian ballistic missile that had entered Turkish airspace since the start of the war and stated it would take all necessary defensive measures. Turkey is now caught in the middle of an escalating conflict that could pose risks to the country's security, economy, and foreign policy. Tol, Taylor, and Czekaj discuss what a prolonged regional conflict could mean for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his regional political objectives, and Turkey's relationship with key Middle Eastern neighbors.   Find Gönül's latest article on Turkey's position amid the Iran war here, and her explainer on what the war means for Turkey here.   Recorded on March 11, 2026.

    48 min

  4. 5 MAR

    Lebanon on the Brink: Hizballah, Iran, and the War's Spillover

    Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Fadi Nicholas Nassar to discuss Hizballah's role in the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the implications for Lebanon. A day after the United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran, Tehran's Lebanese proxy fired missiles at northern Israeli territory. Israel responded swiftly and forcefully, and Lebanon's government and population now fear the Iranian-backed militia is dragging the country back into war. The conversation explores the broader repercussions of Hizballah's actions against the backdrop of a widening war in Iran and Lebanon's quickly evolving political climate. Nassar also outlines recommendations for how Lebanon can move forward as a sovereign and effective state.   Find Nick's recent article assessing the Lebanese authorities' actions to disarm Hizballah here.   Recorded on March 4, 2026.

    43 min

  5. 26 FEB

    Is the Regime Doomed? Iran on the Eve of War

    Against the backdrop of one of the largest US military deployments to the Middle East since 2003, MEI Senior Fellow Alex Vatanka joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to assess the situation inside Iran on the eve of potential war. Weeks after the Islamic Republic's brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters and as negotiations with the US fail to find common ground, Donald Trump is reportedly weighing options for military action against Iran. Vatanka breaks down the regime's strategic calculus, the current dynamics of Iran's opposition movement, and the likely domestic political consequences of a military strike.   For more information, see Alex's co-authored article with Sanam Vakil on Iran's divided opposition here and his analysis of the regime's strategic calculus here.   Recorded on February 24, 2026.

    41 min

  6. 19 FEB

    Bibi's Hail Mary on Iran

    Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Natan Sachs to discuss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's February 11 visit to the White House, Israel's anxieties surrounding the ongoing US-Iran talks, and the domestic political dynamics Netanyahu is operating under. Taylor, Czekaj, and Sachs unpack what Netanyahu hoped to achieve during the visit, particularly regarding Iran, and what his relationship with President Donald Trump can tell us about the relative coordination and policy alignment between the US and Israel. They also examine Netanyahu's political standing at home, two and half years since the October 7 attacks, as the 2026 election campaign begins in Israel. Finally, Sachs assesses what lies ahead for Israeli politics.   Recorded on February 17, 2026.

    42 min

  7. 12 FEB

    From the Middle East to West Asia: Redefining America's Global Strategy

    MEI Senior Fellow Mohammed Soliman joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to discuss his new book, West Asia: A New American Grand Strategy in the Middle East. The book argues that it is time for the United States to move decisively away from nation-building and focus instead on order-building, outlining a framework for a new regional order that links Europe to the Indo-Pacific. Soliman also shares how he conceived of the core ideas behind his book and explains why his thesis is especially relevant in today's geopolitical, economic, and technological landscape.   Purchase your copy of West Asia here.   Recorded on February 11, 2026.

    40 min

  8. 5 FEB

    America's New Defense Strategy — and What It Means for Iran

    Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Distinguished Military Fellow Mick Mulroy to discuss the Trump administration's new National Defense Strategy (NDS) and its implications for the Middle East. While serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East from 2017 to 2019, Mulroy helped prepare the 2018 NDS, giving him an insider perspective on US defense planning. Together, Taylor, Czekaj, and Mulroy unpack what the new strategy means for US priorities globally and for the Middle East in particular, including how it could be reflected in a potentially looming military strike on Iran. Recorded on February 4, 2026.

    45 min
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Weekly discussion of Middle East policy, arts, and culture, featuring experts from the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.

Información

  • Creador
    Middle East Institute
  • Años de actividad
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodios
    100
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Middle East Focus

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