Since 2001 (interrupted from 2006-2009) the Africa and Middle East Research Division of the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik runs the annual German-Iranian Dialogue that brings together leading politicians and civil servants with researchers from SWP and its partner institute, the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) (Teheran). This meeting employs a small-scale confidential format to enable an open exchange of views. Alongside bilateral relations, current political developments in the Middle East and questions of regional security are central to the dialogue.
