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The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

Feb 5, 2026

How Iran’s water bankruptcy seeped into the protest movement

By Nik Kowsar

Many of Iran’s protest hubs overlap with areas where severe water shortages in recent years have made life increasingly difficult for people.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Energy & Environment

MENASource

Feb 5, 2026

How Israeli technology could help solve Iran’s water crisis

By Joseph Epstein and Dalga Khatinoglu

Iran faces a stark choice: find ways to access the world’s most advanced water technologies, or continue toward a crisis.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Energy & Environment

MENASource

Feb 5, 2026

Washington’s UNRWA report shows how public discourse is divorced from reality

By Melanie Robbins 

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees has become a proxy theater for unresolved political questions.

Education
International Organizations
READ More from MENASOURCE

Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, 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

Content

Econographics

Feb 6, 2026

Iran can still normalize its economy—but the path will be painful and slow

By Bart Piasecki

Iran’s inflation crisis is driven by persistent exchange‑rate instability, entrenched fiscal dominance, and international sanctions. Despite these structural challenges, there remains a clear—but difficult—path toward economic normalization.

Dollar Dominance
Economy & Business

MENASource

Feb 5, 2026

How Iran’s water bankruptcy seeped into the protest movement

By Nik Kowsar

Many of Iran's protest hubs overlap with areas where severe water shortages in recent years have made life increasingly difficult for people.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Energy & Environment

MENASource

Feb 5, 2026

How Israeli technology could help solve Iran’s water crisis

By Joseph Epstein and Dalga Khatinoglu

Iran faces a stark choice: find ways to access the world's most advanced water technologies, or continue toward a crisis.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Energy & Environment

MENASource

Feb 5, 2026

Washington’s UNRWA report shows how public discourse is divorced from reality

By Melanie Robbins 

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees has become a proxy theater for unresolved political questions.

Education
International Organizations

In the News

Feb 5, 2026

Charai for The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: Yemen Is Not a Gulf Rivalry—It Is a Test of Whether Extremism Can Be Contained

By Atlantic Council

Extremism
Middle East

In the News

Feb 4, 2026

Gray on Fox News on escalating US-Iran tensions

By Atlantic Council

On January 9, Alexander B. Gray, a GeoStrategy Initiative nonresident senior fellow, was interviewed on "Fox and Friends First" about escalating tensions between the US and Iran.

Iran
Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 4, 2026

Gray on Fox Business Network on Iran

By Atlantic Council

On February 2, Alexander B. Gray, a GeoStrategy Initiative nonresident senior fellow, was interviewed on Fox Business Network about US actions in Iran and how they fit Trump's broader strategic ambitions.

Iran
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Feb 3, 2026

Why the Muslim Brotherhood is staying calm amid crackdowns in Jordan

By Aaron Magid

Despite widespread popularity, the Islamist faction did not organize large-scale protests, lowered its media profile, and avoided attacks.

Extremism
Intelligence

Dispatches

Feb 3, 2026

Why the Trump administration is refusing to accept a third term for Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki

By Rend Al-Rahim, Victoria J. Taylor 

That the United States would seek to block Maliki from a third term as prime minister is unsurprising given the disastrous record of his premiership from 2006 to 2014.

Elections
Iraq

Dispatches

Feb 3, 2026

Seven things to know about the potential for resumed Iran nuclear negotiations

By Nate Swanson

The tentatively planned resumption of US-Iran nuclear talks this week does not mean US military action is off the table.

Conflict
Defense Policy
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Experts

Fellow

Tom Mancinelli

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Martin Zuber

Senior US Navy Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Staff

Khalid Azim

Director, MENA Futures Lab

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Middle East

Expert

Maisoon H. Kafafy

Senior Advisor, Middle East Programs

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Andrea Rigoni

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Staff

Allison Minor

Director, N7 Research Institute

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict
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Events

Online Event Thu, February 12, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Iraq’s economic agenda for the next government
Economy & Business Elections Iraq Middle East
Public Event Tue, February 17, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Turkey’s evolving role in a new global geopolitical and security order
Conflict Europe & Eurasia Iran Iraq