Defense Priorities
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MIDDLE EAST EXPERTS

Rosemary
Kelanic

Director, Middle East Program

Defense Priorities

Photo of Benjamin Friedman

Benjamin
Friedman

Policy Director

Defense Priorities

Jennifer
Kavanagh

Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis

Defense Priorities

Photo of Daniel Davis

Daniel
Davis

Senior Fellow & Military Expert

Defense Priorities

Photo of Daniel DePetris

Daniel
DePetris

Fellow

Defense Priorities

Mike
Sweeney

Non-Resident Fellow

Defense Priorities

Photo of Will Walldorf

William
Walldorf

Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

In the mediaNuclear weapons, Middle East

U.S. signs landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that could pave the way for domestic nuclear enrichment

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

July 23, 2026

Before the deal was announced, Rosemary Kelanic, the head of the Middle East programme at Defense Priorities, warned in a […]

Press ReleaseMiddle East, Nuclear weapons

Saudi enrichment risks morphing into U.S. security guarantee

By Rosemary Kelanic

July 22, 2026

Op-edIran, Middle East, US‑Israel‑Iran

In Defense of Détente with Iran

By Lyle Goldstein

July 22, 2026

The Latest

In the mediaNuclear weapons, Middle East

U.S. signs landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that could pave the way for domestic nuclear enrichment

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

July 23, 2026

Press ReleaseMiddle East, Nuclear weapons

Saudi enrichment risks morphing into U.S. security guarantee

By Rosemary Kelanic

July 22, 2026

Op-edIran, Middle East, US‑Israel‑Iran

In Defense of Détente with Iran

By Lyle Goldstein

July 22, 2026

In the mediaNuclear weapons, Middle East

Hypocrisy Outrage As Trump Agrees to Saudi Nuclear Deal While Bombing Iran for Nuclear Enrichment

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

July 22, 2026

Op-edUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

Trump Needs to Defy History to End the Iran War

By William Walldorf

July 21, 2026

Op-edHouthis, Middle East

The Houthi blockade puts Trump in a serious bind

By Rosemary Kelanic

July 21, 2026

DEFP in the Media

Connect with Experts

Read at The Guardian: U.S. signs landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that could pave the way for domestic nuclear enrichment

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

July 23, 2026

Read at International Business Times: Hypocrisy Outrage As Trump Agrees to Saudi Nuclear Deal While Bombing Iran for Nuclear Enrichment

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

July 22, 2026

Watch at BBC News: On BBC News, Jennifer Kavanagh discusses the Houthis' naval blockade on Saudi Arabia

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

July 21, 2026

EVENTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST

See All Events
virtualMiddle East

What’s Next for U.S. Foreign Policy in 2026? Middle East Edition

January 14, 2026
virtualGreat power competition, Balance of power, China, Grand strategy, Middle East

U.S.-China competition and the value of Middle East influence

June 10, 2025
virtualMiddle East, Basing and force posture, Diplomacy, Houthis, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Military analysis, Syria

Trump in the Middle East: Impacts, implications, and alternatives

May 16, 2025