Stay Updated

The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

Jun 23, 2026

The Middle East’s greatest killer is not what you think

By Daniel E. Zoughbie

When considering the forces claiming lives across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), minds inevitably turn to warfare and terrorism. Yet the region’s most prolific killer does not carry a weapon. Its methods are salt, sugar, and sitting. The numbers are staggering. Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 1.4 million people in the region every year; […]

Economy & Business Middle East

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

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.

Content

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2020

US targets al-Qaeda leader: What it means for Yemen and the US counterterrorism mission

By Masoud Mostajabi

"When the United States is able to identify a terrorist abroad who threatens Americans, in the vast majority of cases the solution is relatively simple," William Wechsler says. "Simply reach out through law enforcement or intelligence channels and ask the local government to arrest them. Unfortunately, there remain a few places in the world in which the host governments have no practical ability to do so—indeed, in some of these places legitimate government authorities face a high risk of being killed if they tried. Yemen is one of these places."

Conflict Terrorism

In the News

Feb 1, 2020

Ellinas quoted in Qantara.de (German) on gas production in the Eastern Mediterranean

By Atlantic Council

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Jan 31, 2020

Fontenrose joins VOA (Farsi) to talk about the deployment of additional US troops and aircraft to the Gulf

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Persian

In the News

Jan 31, 2020

Bruton quoted in VOA on status of US-brokered GERD talks

By Atlantic Council

Africa Energy & Environment

Press Release

Jan 31, 2020

Ambassador Marc J. Sievers joins Atlantic Council as nonresident senior fellow

By Atlantic Council

Washington, DC—January 31, 2020—The Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs today announced the addition of Marc J. Sievers as a nonresident senior fellow. Sievers recently retired as a career member of the senior foreign service with the rank of minister-counselor, after having most recently served as US ambassador to Oman. Sievers brings to the program deep […]

Middle East

MENASource

Jan 31, 2020

The two-state solution comes back

By Thomas S. Warrick

The one-state solution is dead. The two-state solution may have a faint heartbeat, but it is unmistakably alive. Now, at least, we know where we are supposed to end up. All we have to do is to work backwards to find out what it will take to get from here to there.

Israel Middle East

In the News

Jan 30, 2020

Arbit in The Forward: There actually is an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that’s working — in Gaza

By Atlantic Council

Israel Middle East

IranSource

Jan 30, 2020

Iranian civil society is our North Star: We should let them guide us

By Gissou Nia

One accurate window into which way the country will trend is to track the demands of Iranian civil society. They are leading with their chants in the streets and letters from prison. And their message to the people of Iran is clear: don’t abandon your self-respect and human dignity. Enough is enough.

Democratic Transitions Iran

In the News

Jan 29, 2020

Wechsler quoted in The New York Times on the Trump administration’s peace plan

By Atlantic Council

Israel Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jan 29, 2020

Slavin joins Foreign Affairs Inbox to discuss Iran’s response to death of Soleimani

By Atlantic Council

Barbara Slavin of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council joins George Washington University’s Foreign Affairs Inbox to explore future paths in US-Iran relations after the death of Soleimani.

Iran Middle East

Experts