More from MEF
The blue dome of Haydar Khana Mosque rises above this street in Baghdad, Iraq.
Middle East Forum Observer
As Iran Teeters, It Is Time to Offer Iraqi Leaders an Off-Ramp
Trump and Rubio Should Approach Iraqi Leaders with Generosity; Co-Opting Former Opponents Is Wiser than Bludgeoning Them
January 15, 2026
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Michael Rubin
Middle East Forum Online
Dismantling the Iranian Zombie State: Washington’s Strategic Imperative
Iran’s Collapsing Legitimacy and Escalating Violence Are Forcing the United States to Move beyond Containment and toward Decisive Action
January 15, 2026
 · 
Amine Ayoub
People walk the busy streets of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland.
Middle East Forum Observer
Will the Arabs Dare to Listen to Somaliland?
Somaliland Became an Oasis of Peace and Stability, Where People Abide by the Rule of Law, Without Foreign Intervention
January 15, 2026
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Bashir Goth
Middle East Forum Online
Iran’s Protests Look Like the First Tremors of Regime Collapse
Economic Freefall and Cross-Class Protest Are Exposing the Regime’s Structural Weakness
January 15, 2026
 · 
Amatzia Baram
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest exporter of refined petroleum and petrochemical products.
Middle East Forum Observer
Why Arab States Are Trying to Prevent a U.S. Attack on Iran
Arab States in the Persian Gulf Have Concerns That Go Beyond Security and Politics, Involving Exports of Oil and Other Products
January 15, 2026
 · 
Dalga Khatinoglu
A view of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey, in July 2025.
Middle East Forum Observer
Why Isn’t Turkey Supporting the Iranian Protestors?
Turkish President Erdoğan’s Long-Standing Message Is That Mass Protests Invite Chaos, Foreign Plots, and State Collapse
January 15, 2026
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Umud Shokri
If the Islamic Republic falls, potential refugee flows from Iran could be in the millions and would transform the region.
Middle East Forum Observer
Is the World Ready for Waves of Iranian Refugees?
If the Islamic Republic Falls, Chaos Will Follow, but If the Regime Instead Restores Control, Its Reign of Terror Will Continue
January 15, 2026
 · 
Michael Rubin
A smoggy view of Tehran unfolds behind a row of Islamic Republic flags.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iran Has Entered a Point of No Return
When People Have Nothing to Lose, the Balance of Power Changes
January 15, 2026
 · 
Vahid Beheshti
An Israeli settlement on a hill overlooks Ramallah in the West Bank.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Strategic Legal Affirmation of Israeli Settlements
An Unresolved Legal Assertion Continues to Be Treated as Settled Law
January 15, 2026
 · 
Aaron Shuster
Middle East Forum Online
Iran Turns to Iraqi Militias to Save Its Revolution
Unable to Trust Its Own Forces, Tehran Outsources Repression to Foreign Proxies
January 14, 2026
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Michael Rubin