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Middle East Institute

MENA Energy Recap, Q2-2026: Mideast Energy Confronts its Hormuz Era
  • Report
  • MENA Energy Recap, Q2-2026: Mideast Energy Confronts its Hormuz Era

    The MENA Energy Recap is a quarterly review of key energy developments that took place in the region from April through June of 2026 and what they signal in the months ahead. The Recap views these developments through the lens of policy and strategy, energy security, and markets.

    The New Old Middle East
  • Commentary
  • The New Old Middle East

    In many ways, the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the war in Gaza that preceded it seem transformative. After decades of shadow warfare, Iran and Israel have now attacked each other’s homelands directly. And Israel and the United States have joined forces in a genuinely novel way to wage war against Iran.

    See More Research & Commentary

    The Latest on War with Iran

    Our Mission

    The Middle East Institute aims to enhance peace, security, and people-to-people ties between the US and the Middle East by providing actionable foreign policy recommendations, rich cultural and educational programming, and opportunities for dialogue, engagement, and exchange.

    Policy Experts

    Policy Experts

    MEI has a deep roster of Fellows and Distinguished Fellows with extensive experience in military, diplomatic, and policy leadership.

    Research & Analysis

    Research & Analysis

    Read in-depth research, analysis, and commentary from MEI’s fellows and experts on the Middle East.

    Arts & Culture

    Arts & Culture

    MEI’s Arts & Culture Center sits at the intersection of culture and policy, providing a platform for a deeper understanding of the Middle East. 

    Read the Middle East Journal

    The oldest peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East, MEI’s flagship journal covers politics, society, and culture in the region.

    Featured Events

    MEI Art Gallery – August First Friday Open House
  • Arts & Culture
  • MEI Art Gallery – August First Friday Open House

    Join us at our last First Friday Open House to see our exhibition Beyond the Weave: Contemporary Dialogues with AlSadu.

    August 7, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    MEI Art Gallery - 1763 N St NW, Washington DC 20036

    Sons of Yusuf: Live at MEI
  • Arts & Culture
  • Event
  • Sons of Yusuf: Live at MEI

    Join us for the closing celebration of MEI's Beyond the Weave exhibition, featuring a live performance by pioneering Kuwaiti hip-hop duo Sons of Yusuf.

    August 7, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    The MEI Art Gallery, 1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

    Podcasts

    Backgrounders

    The Houthis
  • Backgrounder
  • The Houthis

    The Houthis are a political-military faction and Zaydi religious movement founded in northwestern Yemen in the 1980s. A key member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance with links to other militant organizations in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the group has continued to pose a threat to Western interests on a global scale.

    May 15, 2026

    Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
  • Backgrounder
  • Israeli Settlements in the West Bank

    Since 1967, Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been a contested feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ultimate disposition of the settlements and ongoing activity related to their growth have repeatedly defied agreement in negotiations over a resolution to the conflict.

    June 9, 2026