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.

Learn more

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

Nov 17, 2015

Think Before We Talk About War on ISIS

By Richard LeBaron

Whether our political leaders and media commentators are willing to declare war on the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is fast becoming somewhat of a litmus test for whether one is serious about defeating this particular brand of terrorists. While the horror of the attacks in Paris certainly merits a strong response, the […]

France

New Atlanticist

Nov 3, 2015

Why didn’t the GCC publicly oppose the Iran deal?

By Matthew Kroenig

If the Arab Gulf states are opposed to the Iran nuclear deal, why didn’t they publicly speak out against it? This was perhaps the most interesting and contentious point of discussion on the first day of the second annual Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate on November 1. Make no mistake; the lack of public opposition is […]

Iran
Nuclear Nonproliferation

MENASource

Oct 23, 2015

Iraqi Kurdistan Needs a Referendum to Resolve its Political Crisis

By Nussaibah Younis

Iraqi Kurdistan is often hailed as a democratic, reliable, and effective partner for Western powers engaging with Iraq, but the political crisis that has overtaken the region this year has exposed just how fragile and problematic the Iraqi Kurdish political system really is.

Iraq

Event Recap

Oct 15, 2015

The Road Ahead: The Future of the Coalition’s Anti-ISIS Strategy

By Brent Scowcroft Center

Recent developments in Iraq and Syria have raised serious concerns about the Obama administration’s current strategy to counter the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. The United States’ failure to train and equip an effective moderate force in Syria, Russia’s newly redoubled efforts to bolster the Assad regime against ISIS and opposition forces, and an […]

MENASource

Sep 30, 2015

Iraq: The Fragile Economy of a Fragile State

By Nussaibah Younis and Sali Mahdy

There is little to envy in the life of embattled Iraqi Premier Haider al-Abadi, who is struggling to finance a war against the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) even as the collapse of oil prices has crippled the Iraqi economy.

Iraq

MENASource

Sep 29, 2015

Will Tunisia’s Economic Reconciliation Law “Turn the Page”?

By Elissa Miller and Katherine Wolff

The bill has provoked considerable mistrust at a time when Tunisia, plagued by a spiraling economy and relentless security challenges, desperately needs unity. Trust is needed among the Tunisian people and the country’s political parties as the government prepares to embark on challenging reforms that may be its only hope for economic survival.

Democratic Transitions
Middle East

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2015

Iran Debates Its Regional Role

By Bilal Y. Saab

University of Tehran Professor Nasser Hadian’s article Iran Debates Its Regional Role is a must-read for two main reasons: First, even though we know a bit more about Iran today because of a long negotiation with the P5+1 over the nuclear issue and extensive interaction among Iranian and Western diplomats, we still know very little […]

New Atlanticist

Aug 21, 2015

Selling the Iran Deal

By Owen Daniels

Four arguments the Obama administration will use to win over Congress With lawmakers a little over a month into the sixty-day congressional review period for the Iran nuclear agreement or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), US President Barack Obama’s administration is racing to secure votes of approval from undecided congressmen. The President has already […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2015

Perspective on the Iran-P5+1 Nuclear Agreement

By Owen Daniels

After twenty months of negotiations, US, European, and Iranian leaders announced early Tuesday morning that a deal had been reached to secure the peaceful future of Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran
Nuclear Nonproliferation

Event Recap

Jul 7, 2015

Report Launch: The New Containment by Bilal Y. Saab

By Brent Scowcroft Center

Securing the Middle East after an Iran nuclear deal is the region and the world’s next big challenge. The United States and its allies have engaged in tireless diplomacy with Iran over the past few years to produce an agreement that would limit Tehran’s nuclear program for the next decade and a half. A final […]

Load More