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

Event Recap

Mar 29, 2024

Launching the Syria Strategy Project

By JP Reppeto and Charles Johnson

On March 18, 2024, the Atlantic Council’s Syria Project, the Middle East Institute’s Syria Program, the European Institute of Peace, and Madaniya Civil Society Network launched the Syria Strategy, an intensive process of engagement with subject matter experts and policymakers in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East to develop a holistic strategy to […]

Civil Society Conflict

MENASource

Mar 29, 2024

No, Putin, the ISIS-K attack in Moscow wasn’t about Ukraine

By Mark N. Katz

This attack by ISIS-K may have been motivated by several grievances, including retaliation for the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Europe & Eurasia Middle East

IranSource

Mar 27, 2024

Ex-minister Zarif confirms Iran’s reform movement is dead

By Shay Khatiri

The audio leak confirms that there was, in fact, a sincere reform movement in the 1990s, and now that movement is dead.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Mar 22, 2024

‘Unification of the arenas’ might turn from an opportunity for Iran into a threat

By Raz Zimmt

Hamas’s decision to start a war at a time not determined by Iran created a situation of escalating risks.

Conflict Iran

IranSource

Mar 21, 2024

It’s morally imperative that the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran be extended. Here’s why.

By Rose Parris Richter and Azadeh Pourzand

The need for the FFMI’s mandate to be extended for an additional year lies in the gravity and scope of its findings and the ongoing and escalating atrocities documented since the initial report.

Civil Society Conflict

MENASource

Mar 20, 2024

Tony Pfaff: The ethics of proxy relationships applies to everyone

By Holly Dagres

The academic and former US government official was interviewed by our MENASource editor to discuss his most recent book and its implications for US foreign policy.

Defense Policy Iran

IranSource

Mar 20, 2024

Iran targeted human rights sanctions series: Understanding ‘terrorist organization’ designations in relation to the IRGC

By Celeste Kmiotek, Lisandra Novo

This post looks at how terrorist organization listings are decided, the consequences, and how these are related to targeted human rights sanctions.

Economic Sanctions Iran

Event Recap

Mar 19, 2024

Justice and accountability in the MENA region: The importance of women’s stories

By Charles Johnson

On Wednesday, February 14, the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project hosted a hybrid panel event about the crucial role women and their testimonies play in pursuit of justice and accountability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Human Rights Lebanon

MENASource

Mar 15, 2024

Turkey and Egypt bury the hatchet, marking an end to emerging third axis in the Middle East

By Borzou Daragahi

The carefully choreographed and worded meeting between Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, served as a final burial ceremony for what was once an emerging third axis in the Middle East.

Conflict Crisis Management

MENASource

Mar 14, 2024

Heaven can’t wait: Are Israel’s Haredi parties about to bring Netanyahu down?

By Shalom Lipner

Bringing this clash to its latest boil is a fast-approaching April 1 deadline for the Knesset to approve new legislation that would regulate the Haredi exclusion from the IDF draft.

Israel Middle East
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