Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, 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

Sep 16, 2020

The limits of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and what Syrians can learn

By Reem Salahi and Bachar El-Halabi

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s shortcomings provide multiple lessons for future accountability in Syria.

Lebanon
Middle East

IranSource

Sep 16, 2020

#Don’tExecute: A semi-successful campaign against capital punishment in Iran

By Rebecca Stryer

For the third time in less than two months, Iranians took to Twitter in late August to express their outrage over another death sentence handed out to a protester.

Human Rights
Iran

MENASource

Sep 15, 2020

Sistani’s roadmap to the renewal of political legitimacy in Iraq

By Abbas Kadhim

While his statement can be interpreted as a form of support for the current Iraqi government, this support is not unconditional.

Iraq
Middle East

IranSource

Sep 14, 2020

Iran’s expansion of uranium stockpile is troubling but manageable

By Kelsey Davenport

Iran’s output of enriched uranium has remained fairly steady over the course of 2020, demonstrating that Tehran is not accelerating production.

Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Sep 11, 2020

Experts react: US brokers another deal in Middle East with Israel and Bahrain

By William F. Wechsler, Kirsten Fontenrose, Marc J. Sievers, Jonathan H. Ferziger, Barbara Slavin, Carmiel Arbit, Michel Duclos, Richard LeBaron, Mark N. Katz, Thomas S. Warrick, Sina Azodi, Joze Pelayo

Atlantic Council experts react to Bahrain agreement to normalize ties with Israel and what it means for the wider region.

Israel
Middle East

IranSource

Sep 10, 2020

Why Nasrin Sotoudeh is on hunger strike to protest Iran’s dire prison conditions

By Tara Sepehri Far

The prominent Iranian human rights lawyer has been on a hunger strike in Evin prison for almost a month in order to demand the release of the country’s scores of political prisoners.

Human Rights
Iran

IranElections2021

Sep 10, 2020

Iran’s reformists don’t have a strategy yet—let alone a candidate

By Raz Zimmt

There is a growing number of voices among the reformist faction indicating confusion and distress less than a year before the June 2021 presidential election.

Iran
Middle East

MENASource

Sep 10, 2020

Forgotten quarter: Beirut blast survivors in the Karantina neighborhood

By Zahra Hankir and Lynn Chaya

Journalists Zahra Hankir and Lynn Chaya spoke to dozens of survivors about their experiences before, during, and after the August 4 Beirut blast. Here are some of their stories.

Lebanon
Middle East

MENASource

Sep 2, 2020

Caesar Act: The Syrian people are sapped while Assad grows stronger

By Qussai Jukhadar & Elizabeth Tsurkov

The Bashar al-Assad regime is unconcerned about Syrian lives and, thus, worsening economic misery is unlikely to shift its calculations.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Sep 1, 2020

Energy cooperation in the Middle East is a necessary step toward regional security

By Ariel Ezrahi

Mutual energy dependencies can help mitigate political tensions, creating incentives to cooperate and possibly facilitating a positive momentum towards solving some of the MENA region’s thornier outstanding political conflicts

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy
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