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Persian Gulf Region

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The Persian Gulf region—which includes Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq—contains an estimated 50 percent of the world's oil reserves and thus plays a strategic geopolitical role. RAND has a strong presence in and focus on the region, with an office in Doha, focusing primarily on domestic and regional issues such as education and development and on assisting U.S. and allied military forces in the region.

Report
Exploration of Early COVID-19 Responses in Select Middle East Nations
Prior to the pandemic, many countries in the Middle East struggled with health care capacity and access. COVID-19 placed significant additional strain on health care delivery in the region. What common challenges did Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and Tunisia face in their pandemic responses?
Mar 24, 2022
Report
Reimagining U.S. Strategy in the Middle East
Long-standing U.S. policies in the Middle East that rely on defeating threats and keeping partners on “our side” have fallen short. What if the U.S. approach shifted from focusing on the threat of the day to a positive vision of a region supported by increased diplomatic and economic investments?
Feb 23, 2021

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Blog
Community Schools, Brexit, Coronavirus: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the promise of community schools, the costs of uncertainty after Brexit, the coronavirus, and more.
Jan 31, 2020
Multimedia
Escalation with Iran: Outcomes and Implications for U.S. Interests and Regional Stability
An overview of testimony by Ariane Tabatabai presented before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism on January 28, 2020.
Jan 28, 2020
Testimony
Escalation with Iran: Outcomes and Implications for the United States
In the aftermath of the killing of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, the United States should be prepared for a further response from Iran. What are some courses of action the regime might take? And what are options for the United States moving forward?
Jan 28, 2020
Blog
Australia's Fires, Artificial Intelligence, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Australia's devastating fires, how artificial intelligence could manipulate the masses, the fentanyl crisis, and more.
Jan 24, 2020
Commentary
The Politics of Man-Hunting and the Illusion of Victory
Captures and strikes are important accomplishments and the countless nameless professionals who carry them out deserve the credit for executing them. But leaders are charged with something larger and should be judged by a higher standard: namely, seeing beyond the illusion and producing actual strategic victories.
Jan 22, 2020
Commentary
Iran Claws Back Its Regional Influence
Last year, Iran faced protests at home as well as in Iraq and Lebanon, where thousands rallied against Tehran's regional hegemony. But with its recent machinations and the fallout over the killing of Soleimani, Iran has succeeded in changing the regional conversation.
Jan 17, 2020
Blog
Iran, Mental Health and Jail, Russia: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Iran and Iraq following the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, supporting those experiencing mental illness in jails, Russia's hostile measures, and more.
Jan 10, 2020
Commentary
How Will Iran Respond to Soleimani's Killing—and Where Will the Escalation End?
Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani's death will reverberate in the Middle East region for a long time. The United States must know its end game and be able to respond to this changing landscape of its own making, without stumbling into another full-fledged conflict that the Trump administration itself, Congress, and the American people have said they do not want.
Jan 7, 2020
Commentary
Baghdad Siege Wasn't Benghazi, and Never Will Be
Given the heightened tension between the United States and Iran and the ongoing instability in Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad may very well be attacked again. If such an attack were to be successful, it would be more akin to the fall of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon than the U.S. mission in Benghazi.
Jan 6, 2020
Commentary
Iraq's Vote to Expel U.S. Troops Is Iran's True Victory
If American soldiers are ejected from Iraq, the consequences may be far-reaching and damaging to U.S. strategic interests. What options remain to reset the relationship between Washington and Baghdad?
Jan 6, 2020
Commentary
All-Out U.S.-Iran War Is Unlikely. But Low-Level War Expected to Continue
Iranian retaliation for Soleimani's killing and counter-retaliation by the United States seem likely. But Tehran and Washington have good reasons to inflict limited pain without engaging in a full-scale war.
Jan 6, 2020
Commentary
Can Iraq Evict U.S. Forces?
The Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. troops from Iraq. This vote was nonbinding, and the Iraqi caretaker government cannot pass laws, but it does indicate that a majority in parliament wants U.S. forces to leave.
Jan 6, 2020
Blog
Iranian Commander Soleimani Killed: RAND Experts React
The White House has confirmed that a U.S. airstrike authorized by President Trump killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani just outside the Baghdad airport in Iraq. We've rounded up how RAND researchers reacted to the news.
Jan 3, 2020
Blog
Most Popular RAND Blog Commentary of 2019
Terrorism. The humanitarian crisis at the border. How to engage friends and foes on the world stage. Here are the top 10 commentaries that readers engaged with most on The RAND Blog in 2019.
Dec 23, 2019
Commentary
Iraq at the Crossroads
The protests gripping Iraq pose an extraordinary challenge to Baghdad's political leadership, which must move the country ahead or step aside. Unless it finds the will to compromise for the common good, the governing class could risk thrusting the country into civil war.
Dec 18, 2019
Blog
How Americans Get the News, Iran, Caregiving: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how Americans consume the news, U.S.–Iranian relations, how federal disability payments help caregivers, and more.
Dec 13, 2019
Commentary
Understanding Iran's Nuclear Escalation Strategy
Throughout 2019, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. What are its goals in doing this? Why has it adopted this strategy? And perhaps most importantly, how far does Iran intend to go?
Dec 12, 2019
Commentary
Don't Expect a Thaw in Iran
Iran's recent protests could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Iran's domestic politics. Whatever happens inside the country, though, it will not likely change Iran's foreign policy.
Dec 11, 2019
Blog
Hong Kong, Reducing Crime, Medical Marijuana: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on what the U.S. can do about Hong Kong, reducing crime in Chicago, medical marijuana, and more.
Dec 6, 2019
Commentary
With Chaos in the Streets of Iran, Here's How the United States Could Help the Iranian People
The Iranian people deserve American support. But current U.S. policies are hurting the cause that Iranians are fighting for while failing to achieve any strategic objectives.
Dec 3, 2019

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Robin Meili

Associate Director, International

Robin Meili is associate director, International; director, International Programs; and a senior management systems scientist at the RAND Corporation. Her primary responsibilities include globalizing RAND's research portfolio, managing philanthropic advisory boards and RAND's international…
Louay Constant

Adjunct Policy Researcher

Louay Constant is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He has worked on a range of social policy issues including K–12 education reform, postsecondary education and training, labor markets, workforce…

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