FEMO

The Foundation for Middle Eastern Studies

Through the symposia and publications it organizes, FEMO intends to bring an expert perspective on the complex issues of the Middle East and thus enrich the debate on the strategic situation of this region.

It is therefore a forum for reflection and a force of proposals for the future of foreign policies concerning this region.

War Against Iran: A Major Strategic Rupture or the Beginning of a New Unstable Balance?

By Maceo Ouitona and Franck Radjai

Since February 28, 2026, the Middle East has entered a phase of open confrontation of unprecedented intensity. The joint offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran, followed by a massive retaliation from Tehran targeting several states in the region, has transformed a long-standing rivalry into a systemic war.

The Reza Pahlavi Project

By Isabelle Prat

3/24/2026

The Powers Devolved to the "Leader of the Uprising"

Commentators rightly point out that the appointment powers granted to the Shah's son, in his capacity as leader of the uprising, are decisive within the three institutions of the Transition:

The National Uprising Council, which serves as the legislative body, is ostensibly distinct from the consultative National Uprising Council that existed before the fall of the regime (and which, it is assumed, includes the names of undisclosed opponents to protect their safety).

Economic modernization and popular sovereignty: a critical analysis of the Rise Iran program from the perspective of a democratic transition in Iran

Sarah Pugliese, editor for FEMO

The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, amid escalating military tensions involving the United States, Israel, and several regional actors, marks a historic turning point for the Islamic Republic of Iran. For more than three decades, the Supreme Leader embodied the ideological and institutional architecture of the regime. His death is not just a change in leadership; it opens a period of major political uncertainty that is likely to redefine internal power relations and regional balances.

Read our recent analysis here