Elliott Abrams
Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies
Middle East Program
The Council on Foreign Relations’ Middle East program provides analysis of the region’s political, economic, and social trends, offering insights into its current instability, its future trajectory, and U.S. policy toward it. The program and affiliated fellows inform policymakers, opinion leaders, and the general public through publications, meetings, and briefings.
Program Experts
Henri J. Barkey
Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies
Steven A. Cook
Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies
Elisa Ewers
Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies
Ed Husain
Senior Fellow
Farah Pandith
Senior Fellow
Linda Robinson
Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy
Ray Takeyh
Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies
Featured Content
By Henri J. Barkey
By Linda Robinson
By Ray Takeyh, Elliott Abrams, Steven A. Cook, Linda Robinson, Max Boot and Elisa Ewers
By Steven A. Cook
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Archive
2876 results
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![<p>Iranian Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) participate in a training session at a base on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq, February 12, 2026.</p>]()
By Henri J. Barkey- Featuring Steven A. Cook
![Iraqi Shiites shout slogans as they carry a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wave Iran flags during a protest against U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran at a bridge leading to Green Zone where the U.S. embassy is located.]()
By Linda Robinson- By Elliott Abrams
- Featuring Steven A. Cook
- Featuring Steven A. Cook
- Featuring Steven A. Cook
