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MED Insights

ISPI 8 Episodi lug 24, 2026

Uncertainty defines today’s Middle East. From Iran to Gaza, from Lebanon to the Gulf, long-standing balances are shifting and new crises are emerging. MED Insights | The Middle East and North Africa, Unpacked is the MED Dialogues podcast by ISPI, where we make sense of a region under pressure. Each episode breaks down the key dynamics shaping the Middle East and North Africa and why they matter far beyond the region.

Episodi

Syria is Back on the World Stage. Now What? lug 24, 2026 00:22:30 July has been a pivotal month for Syria’s international relations. From participating in the NATO Summit in Ankara as the only Levantine country in attendance, to hosting the first visit by a Western head of state, French President Emmanuel Macron, it is now clear that Damascus is no longer considered a pariah state. These developments are the result of the Al Sharaa government's sustained eff

What Was It All For? Understanding the US-Iran Deal. A conversation with Brian Katulis giu 19, 2026 00:16:07 After more than a hundred days of war, on 17 June the United States and Iran have finally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). By extending the 8 April ceasefire, the agreement aims to restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and establish a framework for broader negotiations on the most contentious issue: Iran's nuclear programme. As we wait to see if this deal will really

Netanyahu, the Opposition and Israel's Security Gamble mag 29, 2026 00:33:39 Following a crisis within Netanyahu’s coalition, members of the Knesset approved the dissolution of the Israeli parliament in a preliminary reading. As the country awaits a final decision on whether elections will be held in September or October, Israel finds itself at a crossroads, amid deep internal social tensions, ongoing and perpetual conflicts and an increasingly challenging regional and int

War and Diplomacy: The Gulf on the Edge. A conversation with Majed Al Ansari mag 13, 2026 00:17:19 As the war between Iran and the United States appears to be once again on the brink of a new phase of military confrontation, one region remains particularly vulnerable: the Gulf. The countries of the GCC have found themselves on the frontline of a war they neither chose nor wanted – a conflict that is impacting not only their economies, but also the region’s security architecture. How has the war

Lebanon in the Crossfire: Israel, Hezbollah and the Iran factor apr 21, 2026 00:30:16 Almost 50 days after the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a 10-day ceasefire has been brokered by the United States. As hopes grow that this pause could pave the way for a lasting end to the fighting, Lebanon remains at a crossroads.Beyond the war, the country appears unable to break free from its overlapping internal and external crises. The government in Beirut, in power fo

Trump's Endgame in the War on Iran mar 25, 2026 00:17:56 Four weeks into the war, uncertainty continues to prevail. Following a 48-hour ultimatum threatening strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, US President Donald Trump announced the start of negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement to end the conflict. However, Iranian officials have denied that any talks are underway, while the country continues to face ongoing bombing.With a fragile diplomati

How Will the War on Iran End? A Conversation with Vali Nasr mar 20, 2026 00:26:29 Three weeks after the US–Israel attacks on Iran, there is still no sign of de-escalation. Instead, Israel’s strikes on Iran’s gas infrastructure and Iran’s retaliation targeting Gulf energy assets are turning what began as a military confrontation into a broader crisis with global implications for energy markets and economic stability, well beyond the Middle East.What strategic objectives are driv

Inside the Gulf's Power Rift feb 27, 2026 00:30:14 In recent months, a growing rift has emerged between two of the Middle East’s powerhouses: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. What began as an escalation in Yemen rapidly evolved into a broader diplomatic and political crisis between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. Yet the divide extends far beyond Yemen, revealing a deeper geopolitical competition unfolding across the Middle East, Africa, and the R

What life for Iran: fear, repression and the quest for a deal with Trump feb 5, 2026 00:28:44 As negotiations between the US and Iran get underway in Oman, the threat of a US attack on Iran continues to loom. At the same time, the protests of late December and early January have brought into sharp focus the Islamic Republic’s deep-rooted, systemic, and multifaceted crisis. What is happening in Iran? Are we truly on the verge of a new agreement, or heading toward a renewed confrontation bet

MED Insights, a new podcast by ISPI feb 4, 2026 00:00:44 MED Insights is ISPI’s new podcast navigating a region under pressure. From shifting powers to emerging crises, each episode unpacks what’s shaping the Middle East and North Africa – and why it matters far beyond it.