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

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2019

Is the Iran nuclear deal on its last legs?

By David A. Wemer

Matthew Kroenig, deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security said that the decision “means Iran will begin moving closer to a nuclear weapons capability,” which—while expected— “is still highly concerning.”

Iran
Nuclear Nonproliferation

IranSource

Jun 17, 2019

GCC dispute pushes Iran and Qatar closer but with caveats

By Giorgio Cafiero and Andreas Paraskevopoulos

Despite the recent rise in tensions between the United States and Iran, Qatar is moving closer to its controversial neighbor as a blockade of Qatar by prominent Arab countries appears to have become a permanent feature of the regional geopolitical landscape.

Iran
The Gulf

IranSource

Jun 14, 2019

No one wins a war in the Gulf, but Iran would be the biggest loser

By John W. Miller

Despite repeated assertions by regime officials in Tehran and key members of the Trump administration regarding a mutual desire to avoid war, tensions in the region continue to rise.

Iran
United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2019

Only US concessions can bring Iran to the negotiating table

By David A. Wemer

Iranian supreme leader rebuffs Japanese prime minister’s attempt at mediation.

Iran
Nuclear Nonproliferation

MENASource

Jun 13, 2019

The decline of MENA students coming to the United States: Why that’s a problem

By Ambassador Richard LeBaron and Sarah Aljishi

Fewer students from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are pursuing university studies in the United States. In its most recent “Open Doors” report, the Institute for International Education measured an 8.7 percent reduction in the number of undergraduates from the region attending US colleges and universities for full-time studies and 5.2 percent decline in graduate students.

Middle East
Youth

IranSource

Jun 13, 2019

Iranian society shaken by former mayor’s murder of his wife

By Tahereh Hadian-Jazy

In Iran, as in other societies, citizens wish to see those in high political office as exemplars of positive values and ideals such as virtue, decency and morality.

Iran

MENASource

Jun 12, 2019

Tunisia 2019’s elections: Is it time to negotiate or to rehabilitate democracy?

By Haykel Ben Mahfoudh

In October 2019, an estimated 6.7 million Tunisians will head to the polls to elect their next parliament and the following month elect a new president of the republic. Yet, the gains are significant in terms of consolidating the democratic process that started in 2011. However, five years after the adoption of a progressive constitution in 2014, the democratic transformation of the country reveals that it is still in its early stages.

North Africa

SyriaSource

Jun 12, 2019

Underestimating the global impact of the Syrian war

By Frederic C. Hof

More measurable in objective terms is the effect on European politics and unity of a massive flow of migrants—sixty percent Syrian—surging across the continent in 2015.

Syria

IranSource

Jun 12, 2019

A decade after Iran’s Green Movement, some lessons

By Borzou Daragahi

To those on the ground, the vote result was obviously rigged. The margin of victory by incumbent hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was grossly out of line with previous and subsequent Iranian election results with high turnouts.

Iran

SyriaSource

Jun 11, 2019

New rules of engagement needed as ISIS remains and adapts

By Abdullah Almousa

The Islamic State was crippled this past year in several fierce battles with the international coalition, but is regrouping and the international community needs to recognize this and redevelop its strategy.

Syria
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