Adding an Ishmael Track to the Abraham Accords: How to pursue détente between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE

New Atlanticist Mar 18, 2025

The Gaza cease-fire is over. What’s next from Israel, Hamas, and the US?

By Atlantic Council experts

In the early hours of March 18, Israel launched air strikes on Gaza, ending the two-month cease-fire. Atlantic Council experts answer pressing questions about the resumed conflict.
Conflict Israel
Adding an Ishmael Track to the Abraham Accords: How to pursue détente between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE

New Atlanticist Mar 17, 2025

Enough carrots for Putin. For better negotiations, serve ‘maximum pressure’ instead.

By Benjamin L. Schmitt, Richard L. Morningstar, and Daniel Fried

Since Russia appears content for negotiations to move slowly, the Trump administration should turn up the pressure with new sanctions.
Conflict Economic Sanctions
Adding an Ishmael Track to the Abraham Accords: How to pursue détente between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE

Issue Brief Mar 13, 2025

Present without impact? How the Middle East perceives China’s diplomatic engagement

By Jonathan Fulton

Despite economic advancements and high-profile diplomatic engagements, China’s influence remains largely economic rather than political, Jonathan Fulton argues.
China Economy & Business

Content

New Atlanticist

Apr 29, 2021

Adding an Ishmael Track to the Abraham Accords: How to pursue détente between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE

By Kirsten Fontenrose

Most Middle East observers thought that they would never see normalization between Arabs and Israelis in their lifetimes. Now that we have seen this step taken—this chasm jumped—there is no reason not to envision Arab-Iranian normalization if the regimes prioritize long-term national interests like their economies, their self-sufficiency, and the future well-being of their publics. This roadmap is theirs for the taking.

Iran Politics & Diplomacy

In-Depth Research & Reports

Apr 29, 2021

Iranian women in the year 1400: The struggle for equal rights continues

By Mehrangiz Kar and Azadeh Pourzand

A new report outlines an image of women’s struggles for equality to help US policymakers better understand the intricacies of Iranian society and to design policies that support—but do not supplant or undermine—the women’s movement.

Conflict Iran

Fast Thinking

Apr 29, 2021

FAST THINKING: Biden’s challenge to China and Congress

By Atlantic Council

President Joe Biden described an array of challenges at home and abroad during a speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday to mark one hundred whirlwind days in office. To a socially distanced hall of masked dignitaries, Biden staked out ambitious domestic plans and placed them in the frame of broader competition with China to “win the 21st century.”

Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus

SouthAsiaSource

Apr 29, 2021

The Biden administration must incorporate India’s provincial elections in West Bengal and Assam into its South Asia foreign policy

By Rudabeh Shahid and Kaveri Sarkar

Away from India's awful COVID-19 scenes playing out are elections Washington should not ignore. The ongoing state elections in India’s east, specifically the states of West Bengal and Assam, are characterized by dynamics central to today’s India and their results will have long-lasting implications for national politics. The fanning of toxic identity politics, compromising of democratic institutions, the worrisome rise of COVID-19 cases, and the effect on foreign relations are aspects of these elections that deserve Washington’s serious attention.

Bangladesh Coronavirus

Event Recap

Apr 29, 2021

Charting a course in Chad: Implications and analysis

By Africa Center

On Thursday, April 29, the Africa Center hosted a private roundtable on the evolving situation in Chad, featuring US, French, and Chadian perspectives.

Africa Conflict

IranSource

Apr 29, 2021

COVID-19 depressed women’s employment everywhere, and more so in Iran

By Nadereh Chamlou

In Iran, the closures and the pandemic have depressed women’s already low economic participation rates by about 20 percent. However, even during periods of relatively high economic rates of growth, female labor force participation and unemployment rates have remained unmoved.

Iran Middle East

UkraineAlert

Apr 28, 2021

Dismissal of Naftogaz CEO raises doubts over Ukraine’s corporate governance reforms

By Aura Sabadus

The Ukrainian government has dismissed Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev and the company’s supervisory board, raising serious questions over corporate governance reforms at the country's state-owned enterprises.

Oil and Gas Political Reform

In the News

Apr 28, 2021

Charai in The Hill: Allies will make the difference in exiting Afghanistan, dealing with Iran

By Atlantic Council

Within recent weeks, the Biden administration has made clear its priority goals in Central Asia: withdrawal from Afghanistan and renewed outreach to Iran. US cooperation with allies will be the key to achieving these goals, argues Atlantic Council Board Director Ahmed Charai.

Afghanistan Iran

In the News

Apr 28, 2021

Preble quoted in Newsweek: How does Biden’s foreign policy stack up after his first 100 days?

By Atlantic Council

On April 28, Preble was quoted in Newsweek on the first 100 days of President Biden’s foreign policy. “There have been pluses and minuses,” Preble said. “The Afghanistan decision was the correct one, and I’ve been encouraged by his approach to the civil war in Yemen and his apparent willingness to hold Saudi Arabia at […]

English Politics & Diplomacy

IranSource

Apr 28, 2021

Russia secretly feared the Iran nuclear deal. Here’s why.

By Mark N. Katz

Even if the US and Iran do find common ground over the JCPOA, Moscow no longer needs to fear that it will lead to a broader US-Iran detente as there are too many other issues that Washington and Tehran disagree over.

Iran Middle East
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Experts

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Helene-Terese Jürgenson

E-Construction Services Project Manager, Estonian Ministry of Climate

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Northern Europe

Fellow

Eric V. Guichard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Corruption

Staff

Ellie Sennett 

Editor

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Middle East

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Inês Bravo Figueiredo

Co-President, Volt Portugal

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Fellow

Jonathan Corrado

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Indo-Pacific Korea

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia
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Events

Public Event Thu, May 1, 2025 • 3:00 pm ET

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Europe and the new world order

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot will share his vision of Europe’s role for the future of transatlantic relations.
Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Wed, May 7, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Taking stock: Bilateral ties after 100 days of the Trump administration
Economy & Business International Markets Latin America Mexico
Online Event Fri, May 16, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Lucian Kim on “Putin’s Revenge” and Russia’s war on Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine