MENASource

As the MENA region continues to be the epicenter of news headlines, the Atlantic Council’s MENASource is a hub for thought-provoking and hard-hitting analyses about the latest trends, ideas, and debates. This online publication provides fast reactions and in-depth commentary on breaking news and key regional topics by a diverse team of experts and contributors.

MENASource brings you up-close to a region at the epicenter of geo-political headlines. It is the Atlantic Council’s hub for in-depth commentary about breaking news, key topics, and trends from our team of experts on the Middle East and North Africa.

The views expressed in MENASource are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

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Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

MENASource Jan 14, 2026

Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

If Trump is serious about peace, stability, and a lasting legacy, the path forward does not run through air strikes or transactional deals with a failing theocracy.

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Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

MENASource Jan 28, 2026

Trump’s National Security Strategy doesn’t downgrade the Middle East, it redefines it

By Kristian Alexander

Trump’s strategy is a sophisticated refinement of “America First.” For the Gulf, the implications are significant, but manageable.

Middle East National Security
Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

MENASource Jan 13, 2026

Eight questions (and expert answers) on the SDF’s withdrawal from Syria’s Aleppo

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts unpack why violence erupted, what it means for Kurdish safety and integration in Syria, and how Washington is engaging.
Civil Society Conflict

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MENASource

Jan 14, 2026

Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

By Tara Kangarlou

If Trump is serious about peace, stability, and a lasting legacy, the path forward does not run through air strikes or transactional deals with a failing theocracy.

Civil Society Crisis Management

MENASource

Jan 13, 2026

Eight questions (and expert answers) on the SDF’s withdrawal from Syria’s Aleppo

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts unpack why violence erupted, what it means for Kurdish safety and integration in Syria, and how Washington is engaging.

Civil Society Conflict

MENASource

Jan 12, 2026

The Venezuela-Iran connection and what Maduro’s capture means for Tehran, explained 

By Joze Pelayo, Kirsten Fontenrose, Ellie Sennett 

Our experts break down Iran’s ties to Venezuela and the impact Maduro’s capture could have on Tehran’s interests in and outside of its own borders. 

Iran Oil and Gas

MENASource

Jan 8, 2026

As Iran protests continue, policymakers should apply these key lessons

By Abram Paley and Nate Swanson

The Iranian people are bravely leading the current protests. It is essential to keep the focus on them.

Civil Society Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

MENASource

Jan 8, 2026

Iraq’s pathway to stability relies on transfers of power

By Yerevan Saeed

The key question is not whether Sudani is like al-Maliki but whether a second term would reduce competition and weaken institutions.

Elections Iraq

MENASource

Dec 22, 2025

The potential of the Abraham Accords won’t be realized without Turkey

By Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi

Turkey seeks to ensure it is not pushed to the margins, while Israel and the Arab countries that signed the Abraham Accords fear excessive Turkish influence.

Europe & Eurasia Israel

MENASource

Dec 19, 2025

Employment needs to take center stage in Gaza security plans

By Melanie Robbins 

The best way to undermine Hamas’s power in Gaza is to employ the people Hamas pays today.

Civil Society Economy & Business

MENASource

Dec 18, 2025

Russia’s most important Middle East base is not where you think

By Frank Talbot

Before its future in post-Assad Syria was determined, Russia was actively searching for alternative strategic relationships in the region.

Defense Policy Libya

MENASource

Dec 17, 2025

Is Iran’s Axis of Resistance turning toward Tunisia?

By Alissa Pavia

Tunisian President Kais Saied sees clear political advantage in drawing closer to Tehran.

Iran Middle East

MENASource

Dec 17, 2025

The Gulf should not underestimate authentic intelligence

By Khalid Azim

Missing from the regional employment narrative is appreciation for a more enduring form of “AI”: authentic intelligence, or human capital.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform
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