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In the News

Apr 1, 2026

Saab in War on the Rocks on possible US seizure of Kharg Island

By Atlantic Council

On April 1, Bilal Saab, nonresident senior fellow with Forward Defense, published a piece in War on the Rocks assessing the feasibility and strategic risks of a potential US Marine seizure of Iran’s Kharg Island amid the ongoing US-Iran war.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Apr 1, 2026

Trump’s path forward on Iran will determine US-Israeli war alignment

By Daniel B. Shapiro, Cleary Waldo

The US president faces three main options: pursue a negotiated off-ramp, adopt an ongoing attrition strategy, or “escalate to de-escalate” militarily. 

Conflict Iran

UkraineAlert

Mar 31, 2026

Zelenskyy’s Gulf region tour was a masterclass in wartime diplomacy

By Peter Dickinson

As the Iran War focuses global attention on the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the Gulf region in late March on a whirlwind tour that showcased Ukraine’s growing military strength and geopolitical clout, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Technologies

TURKEYSource

Mar 31, 2026

Could Turkey help mediate an end to the Iran war?

By Matthew Bryza

As US President Donald Trump searches for a way to exit the US-Israeli war against Iran, Turkey could be a useful mediator between the warring parties.

Conflict Iran

UkraineAlert

Mar 31, 2026

Ukraine bombs Russia’s Baltic ports as Zelenskyy targets Putin’s oil exports

By David Kirichenko

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy says the country’s partners have called on Kyiv to scale down attacks on Russian energy infrastructure after drone strikes reportedly reduced Russia’s oil export capacity by at least 40 percent as global energy prices surge amid the Iran War, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Drones

Dispatches

Mar 30, 2026

The Iran war has set in motion a global realignment

By Ratko M. Knežević

This period may be remembered not as a series of isolated crises, but as the moment when global ambiguity collapsed.

Conflict Economy & Business

Dispatches

Mar 30, 2026

Inside Tehran’s toll booth

By Alisha Chhangani

Iran is using formal, semi‑formal, and informal channels, as well as entirely new systems, to avoid US sanctions and sell oil to China.

China Conflict

Dispatches

Mar 27, 2026

Ten lessons from the first month of the Iran war

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts identify ten important takeaways from the Iran war so far, covering issues from global energy markets to the Iranian regime.

Conflict Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Mar 26, 2026

Only additional pressure can push Putin toward peace

By Kira Rudik

With the Kremlin ignoring calls for a compromise peace, the only way to advance negotiations is by putting more pressure on Putin. Failure to do so could have disastrous consequences that would be felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine, writes Kira Rudik.

Conflict Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Mar 26, 2026

Drone superpower Ukraine is an ideal tech partner for the Gulf states

By Anatoly Motkin

Kyiv's decision to help defend the Gulf states against Iranian drones by deploying teams of Ukrainian specialists is highlighting the scope for broader tech sector cooperation between Ukraine and the region, writes Anatoly Motkin.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Experts