Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs

Blanford in Now Media: ISIS on the Move in Lebanon?

By Nicholas Blanford

Read the full article here.

Iran’s New Parliament: Fewer Clerics, More Women

By Mehrnaz Samimi

The results of this year’s runoff elections for seats in Iran’s tenth parliament have broken two records. The new parliament — which will officially begin work on May 28 — will host the largest number of women and the least number of clerics since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Connable Writes for The National Interest on Need for US Involvement in Iraqi Reconciliation

By Atlantic Council

Iraq Task Force Member Ben Connable discusses the need for US involvement to further reconciliation efforts in Iraq following an Iraq Task Force trip to the country. Read the full article here.

US Middle East Policy Must Include Allies and Adversaries

By Danielle Leopold

A sustainable US Middle East policy should include closer cooperation with longstanding allies—including the United Kingdom and France—but also a strategic dialogue with adversaries such as Russia and China, according to Bilal Y. Saab, a Senior Fellow for Middle East Security at the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. In light of the […]

Younis Quoted by The Daily Signal on Iraqi Politics and Protests in Iraq

By Nussaibah Younis

Read the full article here.

Knights Quoted on the Current Political Instabilities and What They Mean for Iraq’s Future

By Atlantic Council

The Daily Signal quotes Iraq Task Force Member Michael Knights on the current political situation in Iraq and the lasting effects that it can have on Iraq’s political process. He discusses Iraq’s overall ability to come back off the brink of political/security collapse and sees hope in Iraq’s future. Read the full article here.

Iran’s Innovation Economy and the Impact of Sanctions Relief

On April 18, the Atlantic Council’s Future of Iran Initiative hosted a panel discussion on the current state and prospects for high tech ventures in Iran. The panel featured Lily Sarafan, Co-founder and CEO, Home Care Assistance; Nadereh Chamlou, Former Senior Advisor, World Bank; and Christopher M. Schroeder, Entrepreneur, Advisor, and Investor.  Already one of the more diverse economies in the […]

United States and Iran Should Settle, not Escalate Mutual Claims

By Tyler Cullis

The recent decision of the US Supreme Court to uphold the turnover of $2 billion of Iranian assets to US plaintiffs has added one more complication to the nascent relationship between the United States and Iran.  Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the decision “highway robbery” and sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary […]

Younis Quoted by Wall Street Journal on Protests in Iraq and the Country’s Political Climate

By Nussaibah Younis

Read the full article here.