Middle East

The Middle East is undergoing a transformative moment where the old order is vanishing and a new one is beginning to take shape. Wars in Gaza and Iran, the evolution of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and the fall of Bashar al Assad have dramatically changed the region, leading to unprecedented conflict and alliances in the midst of changing economies and energy flows. CSIS experts grapple with these fast-moving developments and explore questions surrounding issues such as geopolitics and geostrategy, governance, counterterrorism, economics, and water security.

The Impact of the Iran Conflict on South Korea: By the Numbers

One month into the Iran conflict, no noncombatant country has been hit harder than South Korea. The Lee government faces not just economic but political pressures as a result of the war.

Commentary by Victor Cha and Andy Lim — April 2, 2026

The Houthi Threat: Is Trump Underestimating One of Iran’s Key Remaining Cards?

Commentary by Will Todman — April 2, 2026

How the Iran War and the Price of Oil Impact the Kremlin's Calculus

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, Hanna Notte, and janis Kluge — April 2, 2026

Who Is Winning the Iran War?

Commentary by Daniel Byman — April 2, 2026

See all analysis on the Middle East

Recent Events

How is Korea Responding to the Iran Conflict? | The Capital Cable #132

April 3, 2026 • 9:30 – 10:15 am EDT

Hosted by Korea Chair

Energy Shots: $100 is the new $60

March 27, 2026 • 9:30 – 10:00 am EDT

Hosted by Energy Security and Climate Change Program

How the Iran War Affects the Global Food Chain | The High Top

March 26, 2026 • 4:00 – 5:00 pm EDT

Hosted by Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy

What Are the Hidden Costs of the War with Iran? | State of Play

March 24, 2026 • 4:00 – 4:45 pm EDT

Hosted by Geopolitics and Foreign Policy

War Hits the Gas Pump: Iran, The Strait of Hormuz, and Energy Markets | The High Top

March 24, 2026 • 4:00 – 5:00 pm EDT

Hosted by Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy

Israel's Escalating War in Lebanon: What's at Stake?

March 19, 2026 • 11:15 am – 12:15 pm EDT

Hosted by Middle East Program

Impact of Iran Conflict for Korean Peninsula | The Capital Cable #131

March 19, 2026 • 9:15 – 10:00 am EDT

Hosted by Korea Chair

Military Planning, Intelligence, and Algorithmic Warfare in the Iran Campaign

March 17, 2026 • 4:00 – 5:00 pm EDT

Hosted by Defense and Security

See all events on the Middle East

Related Programs

Geopolitics & Country Studies Department

Geopolitics and Foreign Policy

Middle East Program

Experts

Mona Yacoubian

Director and Senior Adviser, Middle East Program

Jon B. Alterman

Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy

Seth G. Jones

President, Defense and Security Department; Harold Brown Chair

Daniel Byman

Director, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program

Will Todman

Chief of Staff, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department; and Senior Fellow, Middle East Program

Alexander Palmer

Fellow, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program

All Middle East Content

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The Futures Summit: A New Era of Development Cooperation

Join us on April 10, 2026, for The Futures Summit’s in-person full-day forum as we unlock new opportunities for our sector and chart a more inclusive and resilient global development architecture.

Event — April 10, 2026

How the War in Iran is Impacting Global Energy Infrastructure | All About the Base

On this episode of All About the Base, host Dr. Jerry McGinn discusses the impacts of the war in Iran on regional energy supplies and the implications for global energy infrastructure with Dr. Joseph Majkut, director of the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program.

Event — April 6, 2026

How is Korea Responding to the Iran Conflict? | The Capital Cable #132

How is Korea responding to the Iran conflict? On this episode of The Capital Cable, Victor Cha and Mark Lippert are joined by Darcie Draudt and Jang Jihyang to discuss this important question.

Event — April 3, 2026

Russian Roulette

How the Iran War and the Price of Oil Impact the Kremlin's Calculus

Max and Maria are joined by Hanna Notte and Janis Kluge for a deep dive on how the Iran war and turmoil in global energy markets continue to impact Russian foreign policy.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, Hanna Notte, and janis Kluge — April 2, 2026

The Impact of the Iran Conflict on South Korea: By the Numbers

One month into the Iran conflict, no noncombatant country has been hit harder than South Korea. The Lee government faces not just economic but political pressures as a result of the war.

Commentary by Victor Cha and Andy Lim — April 2, 2026

Who Is Winning the Iran War?

The United States and Israel are devastating Iran's leadership and inflicting significant damage on Iran's already-weak military. Iran, however, is hitting back, and the biggest long-term costs to the United States are likely to be felt outside the Middle East.

Commentary by Daniel Byman — April 2, 2026

The Houthi Threat: Is Trump Underestimating One of Iran’s Key Remaining Cards?

The Houthis have entered the war in Iran. Whether they choose to block Bab al-Mandab or not could have significant consequences for the global economy.

Commentary by Will Todman — April 2, 2026

Iran, Fertilizer, and Food Security: Risks, Impacts, and Policy Responses

The war with Iran is threatening global agriculture markets and food prices, with some impacts emerging and more expected in the coming months. What can policymakers do to protect farmers and consumers—in the United States and around the world?

Critical Questions by Caitlin Welsh — April 1, 2026