MED Insights

Episoade

• Netanyahu, the Opposition and Israel's Security Gamble 29.05.2026 33min

  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...
• War and Diplomacy: The Gulf on the Edge. A conversation with Majed Al Ansari 13.05.2026 17min

  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...
• Lebanon in the Crossfire: Israel, Hezbollah and the Iran factor 21.04.2026 30min

  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...
• Trump's Endgame in the War on Iran 25.03.2026 17min

  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...
• How Will the War on Iran End? A Conversation with Vali Nasr 20.03.2026 26min

  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 ...
• Inside the Gulf's Power Rift 27.02.2026 30min

  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...
• What life for Iran: fear, repression and the quest for a deal with Trump 05.02.2026 28min

  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...
• MED Insights, a new podcast by ISPI 04.02.2026

  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.