The Middle East Policy Council

The Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization focused on producing analysis and commentary related to U.S. national interests and policy in the Middle East. Its mission is to expand public discussion and understanding of issues affecting U.S. policy in the region, including topics that directly or indirectly impact Iran and its relations with neighboring countries and the United States (Middle East Policy Council, n.d.-a).

Location

MEPC is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its official mailing address is:

• P.O. Box 33877, Washington, D.C. 20033
• Phone: (202) 476-9649
• Fax: (202) 296-5791

(Middle East Policy Council, n.d.-b)

History and Establishment

The Council was established in 1981, initially under the name American-Arab Affairs Council. It was co-founded by journalist Richard Curtiss and American diplomat George Naifeh. The organization adopted its current name, Middle East Policy Council, as it broadened its focus to encompass a wider range of Middle Eastern policy issues (Middle East Policy Council, n.d.-a).

Key Historical Leadership

• Richard Curtiss: Co-founder; also founded the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
• George Naifeh: Co-founder and first president until 1991.
• George McGovern: President from 1991 to 1997.
• Charles W. Freeman Jr.: President from 1997 to 2009.
• Frank Anderson: President from 2009 to 2012, with a background in the CIA and extensive experience in the Middle East.
• Ford M. Fraker: President in late 2013.
• Richard J. Schmierer: Elected president in 2017

(Middle East Policy Council, n.d.-a; Middle East Policy Council, 2025).

Financial Sponsors

MEPC has received funding from various sources, including significant donations from Saudi Arabia. For example, in 2007, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud donated $1 million to the Council for future projects. The organization’s financial disclosures showed total receipts of $731,000 in 2007. The Council has faced criticism and scrutiny regarding its funding sources, particularly from those concerned about foreign influence on U.S. policy debates (Middle East Policy Council, n.d.-a).

Website and Contact Information

• Website: mepc.org
• Contact Form and Details: Available on the website, or by mail and phone as listed above (Middle East Policy Council, n.d.-b).

Board and Leadership

The current leadership includes:

• Richard J. Schmierer: Chairman of the Board; former U.S. Ambassador to Oman.
• Ms. Anne Joyce: Vice President and long-serving editor of the Council’s journal, Middle East Policy.
• Ms. Bassima Alghussein: Executive Director since 2021, with a background in international relations and government affairs.
• Other board members include entrepreneurs, scholars, and regional experts, some with direct experience in Middle Eastern affairs (Middle East Policy Council, n.d.-c; Middle East Policy Council, 2025).

Perspective from Iran

From Iran’s perspective, MEPC is viewed as a U.S.-centric think tank that shapes and reflects American policy debates about the Middle East, including issues related to Iran’s regional role, security concerns, and U.S.-Iran relations. While MEPC provides a platform for dialogue and analysis, its funding ties and leadership backgrounds reflect U.S. establishment and, at times, Gulf Arab interests. This context is important for Iranian policymakers and analysts, who may see MEPC’s outputs as influential in Washington but potentially aligned with U.S. and allied regional priorities rather than those of Iran (Middle East Policy Council, n.d.-d).

Prominent Research Figures

The Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) includes leading experts such as Dr. Dania Thafer, who specializes in Gulf security and U.S.-Gulf relations, and Sina Toossi, an authority on U.S.-Iran relations and nuclear policy. Ambassador Richard J. Schmierer, the current president, is recognized for his work on Iran’s regional influence and U.S. policy in the Middle East. Other notable contributors include Clayton Thomas, Hadeil Ali, and Prof. Sabs Quereshi, each bringing expertise in Middle Eastern affairs, diversity, and humanitarian policy (Middle East Policy Council, 2024a).

Key Fields of Concentration (Research)

MEPC’s research focuses on U.S. policy in the Middle East, with particular attention to Iran, the Gulf region, and the broader Islamic world. Key areas include security and political economy, sectarian dynamics (such as the Sunni-Shia divide), regional rivalries, energy security, counterterrorism, and human rights. The organization’s Capitol Hill Conference Series addresses topics like U.S.-Iran confrontation and regional alliances (Middle East Policy Council, 2024a).

Relations to the Islamic World

MEPC maintains a comprehensive focus on the Islamic world, especially Iran’s role as a Shi’a leader and its rivalry with Sunni powers. The Council has hosted conferences and published analyses on U.S.-Iran relations, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and Iran’s involvement in regional conflicts. MEPC’s programming includes dialogue on interfaith and Sunni-Shia relations, aiming to promote tolerance and reduce sectarian conflict (Middle East Policy Council, 2024b).

Publishing/Significant Reports and Impacts

MEPC publishes the quarterly journal Middle East Policy, regarded as one of the most cited publications on Middle Eastern affairs since 1982. The journal covers security, diplomacy, and economic topics relevant to Iran and the region. The Council’s Breaking Analysis series and Capitol Hill Conferences provide accessible analysis for policymakers and the public. Notable publications include symposiums on regional security and articles like “Iran and the SCO: The Quest for Legitimacy and Regime Preservation” (Middle East Policy Council, 2024c).

Partnerships from Iran’s Perspective

From Iran’s perspective, MEPC engages with a wide range of regional actors through analysis and dialogue, rather than direct institutional partnerships. The Council invites Iranian perspectives to its forums and publishes works by Iranian scholars and policymakers, fostering dialogue on issues such as the JCPOA and regional security. MEPC’s approach emphasizes mutual understanding and the exploration of cooperative frameworks involving Iran, its neighbors, and global powers (Middle East Policy Council, 2024d).

Critiques of the Middle East Policy Council

From Iran’s perspective, critiques of the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) often focus on its perceived alignment with U.S. strategic interests and its framing of Iran-related issues within a U.S.-centric policy paradigm. Iranian analysts and policymakers tend to view MEPC as part of the broader American establishment that shapes discourse on Iran in ways that may reinforce U.S. and allied regional priorities rather than reflect Iran’s own perspectives or interests (Wikivahdat, 2022). One critique concerns MEPC’s portrayal of Iran’s regional activities, which often emphasizes Iran’s alleged destabilizing role through support for proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. From Tehran’s viewpoint, this framing overlooks Iran’s strategic rationale and regional security concerns, instead depicting Iran primarily as a threat to regional stability. For example, MEPC highlights Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” as a tool for projecting power beyond its borders but tends to interpret this as aggressive rather than defensive or ideological (Middle East Policy Council, 2024d).

Furthermore, MEPC’s analyses and reports frequently underscore the impact of U.S. sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and Iran’s nuclear program in a manner that aligns with Washington’s policy goals. Iranian critiques argue that MEPC’s work contributes to legitimizing international pressure on Iran, including sanctions and diplomatic isolation, which Tehran views as unjust and counterproductive. The Council’s focus on issues such as Iran’s alleged involvement in assassination plots, human rights abuses, and nuclear weapon development is seen by Iranian observers as part of a narrative that justifies containment and confrontation rather than dialogue (Middle East Policy Council, 2024a).

There is also skepticism about MEPC’s objectivity due to its funding sources and leadership, which are perceived to have close ties with U.S. government and Gulf Arab interests. This leads to concerns that MEPC’s outputs may reflect the geopolitical agendas of these actors, potentially marginalizing Iranian viewpoints or presenting them in a negative light (Wikivahdat, 2022).

Conclusion

In summary, from Iran’s perspective, the Middle East Policy Council is critiqued as a think tank that, while providing valuable analysis, operates within a framework that supports U.S. strategic objectives and often portrays Iran in a predominantly adversarial role. This perceived bias results in skepticism about the Council’s neutrality and the hidden objective of reinforcing policies aimed at isolating and pressuring Iran on the international stage.