Content

Inflection Points

Aug 25, 2026

Threats to US global leadership are mounting: fiscally, militarily, and with allies

By Frederick Kempe

Rising national debt, the ongoing war in Iran, and the trade dispute with Canada are testing the United States’ global leadership.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Dispatches

Aug 24, 2026

Experts react: Will Trump’s Operation Economic Outcast isolate Iran?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts weigh in on the US Treasury’s newest measures intended “to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining” the Iranian regime.

Conflict Economy & Business

Dispatches

Aug 20, 2026

Why Iran has not folded yet

By Andrew L. Peek, Jonathan Panikoff

Formed by the brutal Iran-Iraq War, the men who now lead the Iranian regime will fight back before giving in. But time is not on their side.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Aug 14, 2026

What shrinking US missile stocks means for allies and adversaries around the world

By Tressa Guenov, Bailey Galicia

Replenishing US inventories following the Iran war could take years, and the consequences could extend to Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and beyond.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Dispatches

Aug 12, 2026

Iran is draining its leverage in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s best move is to let it happen.

By Landon Derentz

The US goal should be to help construct a global energy system in which Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz matters far less.

Conflict Geopolitics & Energy Security

Dispatches

Aug 7, 2026

Why Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey just signed a defense pact

By Atlantic Council experts

Each country pledged to defend the others, but each country also has its own motivations for joining the pact.

Conflict Iran

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 6, 2026

Braw in TRT World Now on Iran, Oman agreement on Strait of Hormuz

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 6, Elisabeth Braw was interviewed by TRT World Now to discuss the reported agreement of a shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, and the implications for negotiations with the US.

Iran Middle East

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 6, 2026

Braw in DW News on the Iran-Oman deal for the Strait of Hormuz

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 6, Elisabeth Braw was interviewed by DW News to discuss the potential Iran-Oman deal for how ships enter the Strait of Hormuz and implications of the agreement for ongoing US-Iran negotiations.

Iran Middle East

Dispatches

Aug 4, 2026

Despite what Putin says, Russia and Iran are linking the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East

By Katherine Spencer

Capabilities and expertise developed on the Ukrainian battlefield are now flowing back to the Middle East.

Conflict Intelligence

MENASource

Aug 4, 2026

هل يتمكن الزيدي من فصل الدولة عن الطائفة؟

By Munqith Dagher

منقذ داغر ليس خافياً تأثير ما يجري في الجوار العراقي على السياسة والمجتمع والاقتصاد فيه. وعلى الرغم من ان التغيرات التي حصلت في المنطقة بعد أكتوبر 2023 انعكست على العراق بطريقة او بأخرى، الا ان التأثير الأكبر على سياسته سيظهر نتيجة تداعيات ما بعد 28 فبراير(شباط)2026 والتي تتكشف يوماً بعد الآخر. لقد أدى اغتيال السيد […]

Arabic Conflict

Experts