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.
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 efforts to reintegrate Syria into the international community, a process further facilitated by the country's increasingly attractive investment environment. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain, and the concrete implications of Syria's renewed international role have yet to fully materialise. How did Damascus achieve its reintegration? How is it structuring its new international partnerships? And what obstacles still stand in its way?
To answer these questions, in this episode of MED Insights, Nicola Missaglia, Curator of the MED Dialogues, speaks with Noah Bonsey, Syria Senior Advisor for the International Crisis Group, Mouayad Albonni, Senior Consultant at Karam Shaar Advisory, and Silvia Carenzi, ISPI Associate Research Fellow.
19 Jun 2026
What Was It All For? Understanding the US-Iran Deal. A conversation with Brian Katulis
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 silence the guns, a lot of questions arise around one of the main protagonists of this conflict: President Donald Trump’s United States. What does this agreement mean for the US? What does it say about the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv? And more importantly, what was the point of this war?
To answer these questions, in this episode of MED Insights, Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, speaks with Nicola Missaglia, Curator of the MED Dialogues.
29 May 2026
Netanyahu, the Opposition and Israel's Security Gamble
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 international environment. At the same time, the future of Gaza – especially after Netanyahu's order...
13 May 2026
War and Diplomacy: The Gulf on the Edge. A conversation with Majed Al Ansari
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 affected the Gulf countries? And how is it transforming their security paradigm and strategic ou...
21 Apr 2026
Lebanon in the Crossfire: Israel, Hezbollah and the Iran factor
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 for over a year, has sought to address these challenges, but the obstacles remain immense: from He...
25 Mar 2026
Trump's Endgame in the War on Iran
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 diplomatic window, US objectives in the war remain difficult to grasp, and a number of pressing questions...
20 Mar 2026
How Will the War on Iran End? A Conversation with Vali Nasr
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 driving this escalation? What scenarios may unfold in the coming weeks? And what could this war mean ...
27 Feb 2026
Inside the Gulf's Power Rift
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 Red Sea. How did this rift emerge? And what consequences might it hold for the region? In this sec...
5 Feb 2026
What life for Iran: fear, repression and the quest for a deal with Trump
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 between Washington and Tehran? And what future lies ahead for the Islamic Republic? In this first ep...
4 Feb 2026
MED Insights, a new podcast by ISPI
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.
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