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

Aug 28, 2020

How attacks on US forces in Iraq became a new normal

By Seth Frantzman

The resulting posture of the US in Iraq looks to be a presence concentrated more in the autonomous Kurdistan region—where US forces have never been targeted by rocket attacks—with a very limited presence in Al-Assad base and Baghdad.

Iraq
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Aug 26, 2020

Four takeaways from Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s visit

By Andrew Peek

Washington must compete in the gray zone, for partial victory, with all the tools at its disposal. This visit was a good start.

Iraq
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Aug 24, 2020

The Caesar Act might alter the UAE’s normalization policy with Syria

By Emily Santucci

Even if the US chooses to withhold more punitive measures against Emirati entities for the time being, Abu Dhabi’s posture of rapprochement with Syria may come under closer scrutiny from Washington down the road.

Politics & Diplomacy
Syria

IranSource

Aug 20, 2020

Why is Iran concerned about the peace agreement between the UAE and Israel?

By Sina Azodi

Despite the media frenzy over the recent agreement between Israel and UAE, the agreement is unlikely to bring about a fundamental transformation in Arab-Israeli conflict, as long as the fate of the two-state solution remains murky.

Iran
Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Aug 20, 2020

UAE Foreign Minister: Deal with Israel was made to save the two-state solution

By David A. Wemer

The normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was just “a matter of time,” according to UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, but the UAE finally struck the deal in return for the suspension of the Israeli government’s annexation plans, he said.

Conflict
Defense Policy

Transcript

Aug 20, 2020

Transcript: A Conversation with H.E. Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

By Atlantic Council

One week after the UAE-US-Israeli joint statement announcing that the UAE and Israel have normalized relations, H.E. Anwar Gargash discusses how the two countries reached this historic agreement and explore the deal’s regional implications.

Defense Technologies
Israel

Blog Post

Aug 19, 2020

The sultan of Oman’s new cabinet combines continuity and change

By Marc J. Sievers

The most notable changes involve the replacement of several long-serving ministers by well-known and well-respected senior officials.

Middle East
The Gulf

MENASource

Aug 18, 2020

UN-backed tribunal: ‘no evidence’ of Hezbollah leadership involved in assassination of Rafik Hariri

By William F. Wechsler, Nicholas Blanford, Jomana Qaddour, Gissou Nia, Joze Pelayo

The Special Tribual for Lebanon announced its verdict after fifteen years. Atlantic Council experts react to the tribunal announcement and what it means for Lebanon.

Lebanon
Middle East

IranElections2021

Aug 18, 2020

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former president turned ‘popstar,’ plans to run again

By Holly Dagres

In recent months, there have been talks that the two-term ex-president is planning to run in the 2021 Iranian presidential elections.

Iran
Middle East

IranSource

Aug 18, 2020

The failed UN Security Council vote on Iran proves why diplomatic engagement matters

By Alma Keshavarz

Should the arms embargo expire—and it likely will—the US faces a tough battle to reimpose snapback sanctions.

Iran
Middle East
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