Ambassador Susan L. Ziadeh is a recognized expert on the Middle East and served over two decades in senior diplomatic positions across the region. She was most recently acting principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs and the deputy assistant secretary of state for Arabian Peninsula Affairs from 2014 to 2016. From 2011 to 2014, she served as the U.S. ambassador to Qatar, and has held senior leadership positions in Riyadh, Baghdad, and Bahrain, as well as postings in Kuwait, Amman, and Jerusalem. Ziadeh is currently a Middle East strategic adviser based in Washington, D.C., and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. She is a member of the Middle East Institute’s board of governors, the International Advisory Council for the American University of Beirut, and the American Academy of Diplomacy. A Fulbright scholar in Egypt and Lebanon, Ziadeh is fluent in Arabic. She earned a PhD from the University of Michigan, an MA from the American University of Beirut, an MS from the National War College, National Defense University, and a BA from the University of Washington.

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State of Play

Trump's Iran Deal: What Comes Next?

U.S. and Iran announce a framework deal with a 60‑day ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. CSIS experts analyze its winners, challenges ahead, and its impact on the Middle East.

Podcast Episode by CSIS Scholars — June 15, 2026

Photo: iLab/CSIS