Middle East

Middle East

Stretching from the Western Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, the Middle East continues to be a region struggling with violent conflict, political repression, and poor development. Numerous pro-democracy protest movements, a burgeoning youth population, and efforts to reform governments and lessen economic dependence on oil, however, are causes for optimism. The United States and the international community must remain engaged with the region to provide support for these positive moves and to address the many remaining challenges.

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MENASource

Jun 11, 2026

The Iran war is a game of liar’s poker

By
Khalid Azim

The central question has not simply been who possesses power, but who is willing to absorb pain, tolerate risk, and continue escalating when conventional logic suggests restraint.


Conflict

Iran


MENASource

Jun 4, 2026

تفتت الفصائل المسلحة العراقية بعد تحول النظام الإيراني من الثيوقراطية الى الجنتوقراطية

By
Munqith Dagher

كيف يؤثر تغيير القيادة في ايران على الميليشيات العراقية؟ د. منقذ داغر يبدو اننا بتنا ، بعد 28 فبراير 2026 ،امام نظام مختلف وظيفياً، بل وحتى هيكلياً عما عرفناه طوال السنوات السبعة وأربعين من عمر النظام الايراني. فقد اتسم نظام الحكم في ايران بنسخته الخمينية الأولى 1979-1989  بأحادية قطبية لا مكان فيها سوى للمرشد الأعلى(الخميني). […]


Arabic

Conflict


MENASource

Jun 4, 2026

Iraq’s militias are fracturing as Iran turns from theocracy to juntocracy

By
Munqith Dagher

Iraq’s militias face a spiritual and organizational dilemma that gravely endangers their existence, in the wake of Iran's leadership change.


Conflict

Iran

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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.

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Content

New Atlanticist

May 18, 2012

The Atlantic Alliance Transformed

By Brent Scowcroft

As the US inclination and ability to act unilaterally decline, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization becomes an even more vital tool for foreign and defense policy. However, NATO will only be relevant to new US strategic priorities and geopolitical realities if it changes the way it does business. Despite flaws in its execution, the ultimate […]

Afghanistan Libya

New Atlanticist

May 16, 2012

Building a New Future for Turkey

By Madeleine K. Albright and Stephen J. Hadley

The crisis in Syria and the confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program have highlighted the renewed importance of one of the oldest and most enduring relationships of the United States: its alliance with Turkey.

Syria Turkey

Event Recap

May 14, 2012

Roundtable Discussion with Mr. Munir Daair: Yemen in Transition

By Jason Harmala

The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG), hosted prominent Yemeni businessman and founding member of the Democratic Awakening Movement (TAWQ) Mr. Munir Daair for a discussion on May 14 on Yemen’s challenges as it moves forward in its transition process. Download a PDF of the […]

Yemen

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2012

With Iran, Syria Looming, Can Obama Save NATO from Disaster at Chicago Summit?

By Barry Pavel and James Joyner

Coming off the heels of a very successful NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in November 2010, it looked like President Obama would make the coming NATO summit in Chicago May 20 and 21 – an election-year meeting of America’s strongest allies on American soil – a centerpiece of his campaign, highlighting great successes in his […]

Iran NATO

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2012

Determining Libya’s Trajectory

By Sarwar Kashmeri

Some six months after the end of the war in Libya the situation on the ground appears unstable and chaotic. Is what one sees in Libya simply the normal chaos that precedes a new state? Sarwar Kashmeri, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, speaks with Dartmouth Professor Dirk Vandewalle, a noted expert on Libya. (8.5 minutes)

Libya

Press Release

May 7, 2012

UN Secretary-General Ki-moon Uses Harshest Rhetoric Yet in Call to End Bloodshed in Syria

WASHINGTON, May 7 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tonight escalated the pressure on the international community to stop the violence in Syria, lamenting a “deficit of leadership,” while announcing a new deployment of observers to the country. 

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

May 7, 2012

Ban Ki-moon: Assad May Suffer Fate of Qaddafi or Taylor

By James Joyner

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hinted that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will suffer the fate of Laurent Gbago, Charles Taylor, or Muammar Qaddafi if his reign of violence continues. He declared, “no leader, anywhere, should imagine that he—or she—enjoys impunity for crimes of atrocity.”

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

May 4, 2012

Iran and al Qaeda: More Enemies Than Allies

By Barbara Slavin

Newly released correspondence from Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Pakistan contradicts US assertions that al-Qaeda has a close relationship with Iran. According to a US analysis of letters found in the Abbottabad compound when US Special Forces killed bin Laden a year ago, “the relationship is not one of alliance, but of indirect and unpleasant […]

Iran

Event Recap

May 3, 2012

The Arab Awakening: Progress or Peril?

By Jason Harmala

On May 4, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Wilson Center co-hosted the first Rafik Hariri Debate on the Arab Transitions with Egyptian parliamentarian Amr Hamzawy and former Congresswoman Jane Harman to explore the question of where Egypt and other transitioning Arab countries are headed. Hariri Center Director Michele Dunne moderated the […]

Libya North Africa

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2012

Could Iran Nuclear Talks Founder over Sanctions Relief?

By Laura Rozen and Barbara Slavin

As Iran ponders whether to accept curbs on its nuclear program, it worries less about the possibility of foreign military attack than about the relentless onslaught of economic sanctions that are squeezing its oil-based economy. US and European officials have said that only tangible progress in the talks due to resume in Baghdad May 23 […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation
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Experts

Fellow

Safwan Al-Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Ibrahim Al-Assil

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Bisher Al-Khasawneh

Distinguished Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Arabic Defense Policy

Fellow

Yesar Al-Maleki

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Geopolitics & Energy Security

Fellow

Omar Al-Nidawi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Energy & Environment

Fellow

Rend Al-Rahim

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Democratic Transitions
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