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

IranSource

Oct 13, 2020

New sanctions on Iran’s banks: Crippling or more window dressing?

By Brian O’Toole

Policy actions like these are a continuation of a foreign policy toward Iran that appears characterized by spite rather than achievable policy ends.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

MENASource

Oct 8, 2020

The Shia are a black hole for US policy in the Middle East

By Andrew L. Peek

The US government's public engagement work has not caught up with the new focus on Iran. In other words, the US lacks virtually any engagement with the Shia body politic.

Iraq Middle East

IranSource

Oct 7, 2020

Hossein Dehghan and other military vets vie for Iran’s presidency

By Sina Azodi

Given the extraordinary circumstances that Iran is currently facing, it appears that the establishment is pondering elevating a former high-level military officer to head the executive branch.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Oct 6, 2020

Trump or Biden? Iran weighs the pros and cons of closely watched vote

By Borzou Daragahi

How Iran views the election outcome will play an important role in determining its security posture in the coming months: whether it decides to escalate tensions with Washington or offer an olive branch to either an incoming Biden administration or a Trump White House with a renewed mandate.

Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Oct 6, 2020

I survived Assad’s torture—here’s why I’m a proud advocate of the Caesar Act

By Omar Alshogre

The Caesar Act is not the solution, but an important tool that the US and the international community must use alongside others to end the killing in my homeland.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Oct 5, 2020

Can Kadhimi curb the influence of Iran-backed militias in Iraq?

By Hamdi Malik

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi needs to be more resolute about imposing non-military solutions to reduce the influence of rogue militias, a process he has already started.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Oct 1, 2020

A reform scenario for Lebanon

By Nabeel Khoury

The Lebanese system is defined in a formal constitutional document and an informal, though equally binding, National Pact. Both will need to be radically altered for genuine reform to take place.

Lebanon Middle East

MENASource

Oct 1, 2020

A few memories of Kuwaiti Sheikh Sabah

By Richard LeBaron

Many will speculate about where Kuwait goes from here and whether there will be a leadership crisis.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

IranSource

Sep 30, 2020

Examining Tehran’s regional strategy

By Kenneth Katzman

Neither the Obama administration’s successful negotiation of the 2015 multilateral Iran nuclear agreement nor the Trump administration’s unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA and re-imposition of sanctions appear to have dented or retarded Iran’s advancement of its regional goals.

Iran Middle East

MENASource

Sep 29, 2020

Does the United States need an embassy in Baghdad?

By David Mack

Iraq remains a country of great importance to the United States and it would be foolish to deprive Washington of a tool for assessing and hopefully influencing conditions in Iraq.

Iraq Middle East
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