A US Defense Treaty with the Gulf States: Why Values Matter

New Atlanticist
Jul 1, 2025

The US must enforce sanctions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program

By
Kimberly Donovan

To ensure that Tehran cannot get its hands on the financial resources it would need to rebuild its nuclear program, Iran sanctions enforcement should start with China.

Economic Sanctions
Iran

A US Defense Treaty with the Gulf States: Why Values Matter

New Atlanticist
Jun 26, 2025

What really happened to Fordow? Three possible futures for Iran’s nuclear program after US strikes.

By
Amir Asmar

The condition of Fordow will have a direct impact on the likelihood of Iran giving up its nuclear program versus resuming its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Iran
Middle East

A US Defense Treaty with the Gulf States: Why Values Matter

Fast Thinking
Jun 24, 2025

The big lessons from 12 days of war with Iran

By
Atlantic Council

A tentative cease-fire is underway in the war between Iran and Israel. But where did the conflict leave Iran, Israel, and the United States?

Conflict
Iran

In-depth research & reports

Report

Oct 8, 2024

A bipartisan Iran strategy for the next US administration—and the next two decades

As tensions spike in the Middle East, how should the next US president approach Iran and its network of proxies including Hezbollah and Hamas? With a strategy that can be maintained for decades, by administrations of either party. A bipartisan, expert working group lays out the details.

Iran
Middle East

Programs

Middle East Programs

Working 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.

EXPLORE THE Atlantic Council’s Middle East PROGRAMs

Content

MENASource

May 5, 2015

A US Defense Treaty with the Gulf States: Why Values Matter

By Richard LeBaron

In an Atlantic Council report and subsequent article in The National Interest, my colleagues Barry Pavel and Bilal Saab at the Brent Scowcroft Center of the Atlantic Council have made a case for a formal alliance with US security partners in the Gulf.

Iran
Saudi Arabia

MENASource

May 4, 2015

US Role in GCC Security: Lessons from the Taiwan Case

By Robert A. Manning

The upcoming Camp David Summit with nervous Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders has the Obama administration casting about for ways to enhance security assurances.

International Organizations
Iran

In the News

May 1, 2015

Slavin on Iran, Nuclear Negotiations, and Prime Minister Abe’s US Visit

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin hosts Voice of America’s Issues in the News, discussing topics ranging from the US-Iran stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear negotiations with Iran, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Washington, DC:

Iran
Japan

MENASource

May 1, 2015

Yemen: A View from Marib

By Nadwa Al-Dawsari

It has now been more than a year since Ahmed Ashulaif, a distinguished fifty year-old businessman and tribal leader from Marib, put his business on hold. Since then, he has fought to stop the Houthis, a Zaydi-Shia rebel group that took control of Yemen’s capital and ousted its government in September 2014.

Iran
Saudi Arabia

In the News

Apr 28, 2015

Manning: Will the Real Iran Please Stand Up?

By Robert Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Robert Manning writes for Yale Global Online on how tensions between the United States and Iran on other issues in the Middle East could affect the nuclear negotiations between the two countries:

Iran

In the News

Apr 28, 2015

Slavin: US CEOs Find Crowded Field in Iran

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor on US CEOs visiting Iran:

Iran

MENASource

Apr 21, 2015

The Obama Doctrine and the Middle East: Problems and Prospects

By Nabeel Khoury

President Barack Obama, in his interview with Tom Friedman on April 5, was at his intellectual best. He convincingly explained the framework agreement with Iran while stressing serious strategic disagreement with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamene’i. Tom Friedman, in turn, was at his diplomatic best, trying to nudge the President into crafting an Obama doctrine […]

Iran
Middle East

MENASource

Apr 17, 2015

Why Did Abadi Criticize Saudi Arabia?

By Ramzy Mardini

During his first visit to the White House as the Prime Minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi surprised Washington when he criticized the Saudi Arabian-led air strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran
Iraq

Article

Apr 16, 2015

“The Iran deal’s rare achievement”

By Nicholas Burns

WHAT SEEMS lost in the furious, partisan debate about the Iran nuclear deal is just how long it took the United States to actually get back to a negotiating table with the Iranian government — nearly 35 years. The talks have already achieved something tangible and rare: The United States and Iran are talking again, […]

Iran
Middle East

New Atlanticist

Apr 10, 2015

Are We Back on the Road to Extraterritoriality?

By Richard L. Morningstar

The Implications of Congressional Action Regarding the Iran Deal There has been much debate over the past several weeks on Congress’ role in a final nuclear deal with Iran. Congress clearly has an important role to play leading up to and after an agreement is finalized. US negotiators can, for example, cite congressional pressure to […]

Iran
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Khosro Sayeh Isfahani

Former Researcher

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arms Control Civil Society

Fellow

Carmiel Arbit

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Civil Society Extremism

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Fellow

Danny Citrinowicz  

Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Cybersecurity

Fellow

Ariel Cohen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Central Asia Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Jonathan Fulton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

China Chinese
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