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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The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

Aug 8, 2026

The GCCā€™s wartime borrowing machine is helping counter the Iran war

By Eric Fine

An experienced investor in emerging market debt answers seven burning questions about GCC debt and borrowing.

Economy & Business Macroeconomics

MENASource

Aug 4, 2026

Ł‡Ł„ ŁŠŲŖŁ…ŁƒŁ† Ų§Ł„Ų²ŁŠŲÆŁŠ Ł…Ł† ŁŲµŁ„ Ų§Ł„ŲÆŁˆŁ„Ų© Ų¹Ł† Ų§Ł„Ų·Ų§Ų¦ŁŲ©ŲŸ

By Munqith Dagher

Ł…Ł†Ł‚Ų° ŲÆŲ§ŲŗŲ± Ł„ŁŠŲ³ Ų®Ų§ŁŁŠŲ§Ł‹ ŲŖŲ£Ų«ŁŠŲ± Ł…Ų§ ŁŠŲ¬Ų±ŁŠ ŁŁŠ Ų§Ł„Ų¬ŁˆŲ§Ų± Ų§Ł„Ų¹Ų±Ų§Ł‚ŁŠ Ų¹Ł„Ł‰ Ų§Ł„Ų³ŁŠŲ§Ų³Ų© ŁˆŲ§Ł„Ł…Ų¬ŲŖŁ…Ų¹ ŁˆŲ§Ł„Ų§Ł‚ŲŖŲµŲ§ŲÆ ŁŁŠŁ‡. ŁˆŲ¹Ł„Ł‰ Ų§Ł„Ų±ŲŗŁ… Ł…Ł† Ų§Ł† Ų§Ł„ŲŖŲŗŁŠŲ±Ų§ŲŖ Ų§Ł„ŲŖŁŠ Ų­ŲµŁ„ŲŖ ŁŁŠ Ų§Ł„Ł…Ł†Ų·Ł‚Ų© ŲØŲ¹ŲÆ Ų£ŁƒŲŖŁˆŲØŲ± 2023 Ų§Ł†Ų¹ŁƒŲ³ŲŖ Ų¹Ł„Ł‰ Ų§Ł„Ų¹Ų±Ų§Ł‚ ŲØŲ·Ų±ŁŠŁ‚Ų© Ų§Łˆ ŲØŲ£Ų®Ų±Ł‰ŲŒ Ų§Ł„Ų§ Ų§Ł† Ų§Ł„ŲŖŲ£Ų«ŁŠŲ± Ų§Ł„Ų£ŁƒŲØŲ± Ų¹Ł„Ł‰ Ų³ŁŠŲ§Ų³ŲŖŁ‡ Ų³ŁŠŲøŁ‡Ų± Ł†ŲŖŁŠŲ¬Ų© ŲŖŲÆŲ§Ų¹ŁŠŲ§ŲŖ Ł…Ų§ ŲØŲ¹ŲÆ 28 ŁŲØŲ±Ų§ŁŠŲ±(Ų“ŲØŲ§Ų·)2026 ŁˆŲ§Ł„ŲŖŁŠ ŲŖŲŖŁƒŲ“Ł ŁŠŁˆŁ…Ų§Ł‹ ŲØŲ¹ŲÆ Ų§Ł„Ų¢Ų®Ų±. Ł„Ł‚ŲÆ Ų£ŲÆŁ‰ Ų§ŲŗŲŖŁŠŲ§Ł„ Ų§Ł„Ų³ŁŠŲÆ […]

Arabic Conflict

MENASource

Aug 3, 2026

Can al-Zaidi separate the sects from the state in Iraq?

By Munqith Dagher

The biggest challenge facing Iraq's prime minister is how to curb the role of sectarian institutions in shaping Iraq's state decisions.

Conflict Iran
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.

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Content

MENASource

Sep 11, 2020

Experts react: US brokers another deal in Middle East with Israel and Bahrain

By William F. Wechsler, Kirsten Fontenrose, Marc J. Sievers, Jonathan H. Ferziger, Barbara Slavin, Carmiel Mahony, Michel Duclos, Richard LeBaron, Mark N. Katz, Thomas S. Warrick, Sina Azodi, Joze Pelayo

Atlantic Council experts react to Bahrain agreement to normalize ties with Israel and what it means for the wider region.

Israel Middle East

In the News

Sep 11, 2020

Shaffer in Baku Dialogues: Iran’s longstanding cooperation with Armenia

When the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991, Iranā€™s stable northern boundary suddenly became a shared border with five states: land borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, and maritime borders with Kazakhstan and Russia. Tehran viewed this momentous change as a source of several new security challenges.

Iran Middle East

Insights & Impact

Sep 10, 2020

Kadhim quoted in AFP on the return of Saddam-era files
Iraq Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2020

From coronavirus to Mediterranean tensions, Italy has stepped up its diplomatic game during dramatic year, foreign minister says

By Francesco Bechis and Valeria Covato

Despite the many difficulties, Di Maio is confident that Rome has seized the moment and provided ā€œnew impulse to Italyā€™s international profile and credibility.ā€

China Coronavirus

IranSource

Sep 10, 2020

Why Nasrin Sotoudeh is on hunger strike to protest Iran’s dire prison conditions

By Tara Sepehri Far

The prominent Iranian human rights lawyer has been on a hunger strike in Evin prison for almost a month in order to demand the release of the countryā€™s scores of political prisoners.

Human Rights Iran

IranSource

Sep 10, 2020

Iranā€™s reformists donā€™t have a strategy yetā€”let alone a candidate

By Raz Zimmt

There is a growing number of voices among the reformist faction indicating confusion and distress less than a year before the June 2021 presidential election.

Iran Middle East

MENASource

Sep 10, 2020

Forgotten quarter: Beirut blast survivors in the Karantina neighborhood

By Zahra Hankir and Lynn Chaya

Journalists Zahra Hankir and Lynn Chaya spoke to dozens of survivors about their experiences before, during, and after the August 4 Beirut blast. Here are some of their stories.

Lebanon Middle East

Insights & Impact

Sep 9, 2020

Azodi quoted in Forbes on Iran weapon exports
Iran Middle East

Report

Sep 9, 2020

Future of DHS Project: Full report

By Thomas Warrick & Caitlin Durkovich

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs to refocus its mission to lead the defense of the United States against major nonmilitary threats.

China Coronavirus

Insights & Impact

Sep 7, 2020

Mack quoted in Al Jazeera on UAE-Israel normalization
Arabic Israel
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Experts

Active affiliation

Reem Salahi

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Democratic Transitions

Fellow

Nathan Sales

Distinguished fellow, Middle East Programs

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

Extremism Human Rights

Fellow

Jean-Loup Samaan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Arabic Defense Policy

Staff

Nushin Sarkarati

Deputy Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Corruption Human Rights

Fellow

Joumana Seif

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Staff

Kayra SenerĀ 

Program Assistant, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
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