Middle East Programs Commentary & Analysis

Our blogs feature thoughtful reflections and opinions on current events in the Middle East & North Africa.

Through our Middle East Programs, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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Meet our blogs

MENASource

MENASource follows movements across the region and provides news and analysis on current events, including a platform for Middle Eastern perspectives, among others, on major issues—economic, political, security, cultural—that are at stake in the post-Arab Spring era.  

IranSource

IranSource provides a holistic look at Iran’s internal dynamics, global and regional policies, and posture through unique analysis of current events and long-term, strategic issues related to Iran.

All commentary & analysis

MENASource

Aug 4, 2020

Three years after the Caliphate, Iraq’s Christians find little incentive to return

By Paul Gadalla

The region’s few remaining Christians find themselves caught between Iran-backed Shia militias and an Iraqi government that, nearly twenty years after the American invasion, is politically paralyzed and still unable to provide basic security and services—let alone protect the country’s embattled minority populations.

Iraq Middle East

MENASource

Jul 31, 2020

The American moment: Creating a new balance of power in Syria

By Ayman Abdel Nour and Dania Koleilat Khatib

The United States should seize this moment on changes in the Syrian landscape to create a new balance of power in Damascus.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Jul 31, 2020

The Syrian parliamentary elections were a mockery

By Michel Duclos

All in all, the July 19 result was not great for the Bashar al-Assad regime, but the veneer of a normal election was achieved, especially given that the low turnout could be excused by the pandemic.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Jul 30, 2020

Syria’s inconsequential 2021 presidential elections must be ignored

By Jomana Qaddour and Danny al-Baaj

Russia and the United States will still have to contend with Iranian influence and its far more substantial ground presence in Syria.

Politics & Diplomacy Syria

IranSource

Jul 30, 2020

When it comes to Iran, not everything that goes boom in the night is sabotage

By Raz Zimmt

Even though it is tempting to attribute these current events to foreign sabotage, it is important not to assume that all of these incidents have the same cause.

Iran Middle East

MENASource

Jul 30, 2020

Iran-Syria air defense pact could cause Russian-Iranian friction

By Mark N. Katz

Neither Damascus nor Tehran has been happy about Moscow’s unwillingness to enable themselves or Syria to halt Israeli attacks. The signing of the Iran-Syria air defense pact, though, may change this.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Jul 29, 2020

The tale of an Iranian foreign minister’s rise and fall from grace

By Ali Fathollah-Nejad and Amin Naeni

Mohammad Javad Zarif's fall from grace cannot be considered apart from the Rouhani administration’s and the larger moderate camp’s loss of credibility in the eyes of many Iranians.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Jul 29, 2020

Iran’s air attack tools have limited utility against adversaries

By Robert Czulda

From Tehran’s point of view, a strong emphasis on air attack tools is understandable and reasonable. However, it is important not to overestimate the impact these means can deliver.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Jul 27, 2020

Booming stock market in Iran is a national security project

By Shahir Shahidsaless

Iranian official's statements mask the reality that the rial’s loss of value is a trend and has not been caused by a single incident.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Jul 24, 2020

Why did Iran back Mustafa al-Kadhimi as Iraqi prime minister?

By Hassan Ahmadian

A key reason for this is that the American-installed political structure in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein has never really been successful in terms of fulfilling the main responsibilities of a state: providing security and basic necessities of life to the Iraqi people.

Iran Iraq
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