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

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
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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

In the News

Jan 11, 2020

Dagres joins Al Jazeera to discuss US-Iran tensions

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

In the News

Jan 11, 2020

Wechsler quoted in StarTribune on US-Iran nuclear weapons proliferation

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

Pathways to Net Zero

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council 2020 Global Energy Forum Pathways to Net Zero Speaker: Shaikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company Ahmed Ali Attiga, Chief Executive Officer, APICORP Meg Gentle, President and CEO, Tellurian, Inc. Adam Sieminski, President, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center Moderated By: David Livingston, Deputy Director, Climate and Advanced […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

Delivering energy access and meeting demand in South and Southeast Asia

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council 2020 Global Energy Forum Delivering Energy Access and Meeting Demand in South and Southeast Asia Speaker: Mohamed Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar The Hon. Dr. Tawfiq-e Elahi Chowdhury, Energy Adviser to the Honorable Prime Minister, People’s Republic of Bangladesh Alisa Newman-Hood, Senior Vice President, Excelerate Energy Paddy Padmanathan, President and CEO, ACWA […]

Bangladesh Energy & Environment

In the News

Jan 11, 2020

Livingston joins Emirates News Agency to discuss energy transitions in UAE

By Atlantic Council

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

The role of the oil and gas industry in the energy transition

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council 2020 Global Energy Forum The Role of the Oil and Gas Industry in the Energy Transition Conversation With: Musabbeh Al-Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer, Petroleum and Petrochemicals, Mubadala Investment Company Panel Discussion: Dr. Barbara Burger, President, Technology Ventures, Chevron Corporation Anatol Feygin, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Cheniere Energy Inc. Dr. Robert […]

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

Inflection Points

Jan 11, 2020

Abu Dhabi dispatch: The Soleimani earthquake and coming aftershocks

By Frederick Kempe

The conventional wisdom – underpinned by visuals from Iran – is that the US drone strike reinforced hardliners and shifted the internal Iranian dynamics from protests against the regime to angry demonstrations against the United States. Far harder to measure is the longer-term impact of Soleimani’s absence on the country’s revolutionary effectiveness and structure.

Conflict Iran

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

How can oil and gas companies contribute to the energy transition?

By David A. Wemer

“There is no thing that is a magic solution” to climate change, according to Musabbeh Al-Kaabi, chief executive officer for petroleum and petrochemicals at the Mubadala Investment Company, but oil and gas companies are increasingly realizing that “the future outlook for energy consumption will require different sources of energy.”

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Markets & Governance

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

Climate commitments needed to head off threats of volatility and instability

By Adal Mirza

A widening gap between perceptions and reality of the global energy markets could increase volatility as governments, policy makers, and industries struggle to tackle climate change, according to Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Markets & Governance

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

Setting the 2020 energy agenda

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council 2020 Global Energy Forum Setting the 2020 Energy Agenda Speakers: H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, United Arab Emirates The Hon. Dr. Tawfiq-e Elahi Chowdhury, Energy Adviser to the Honorable Prime Minister, People’s Republic of Bangladesh Majid Jafar, Chief Executive Officer, Crescent Petroleum Michael Sen, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Energy […]

Bangladesh Energy & Environment
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Experts

Fellow

Perrihan Al-Riffai

Nonresident Senior Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Raul Alcaide Alonso

Vice President, Goldman Sachs

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Rza Aliyev

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Project for Middle East Integration

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Azerbaijani Central Asia

Fellow

Ahmed F. Alkhatib

Resident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Arabic Conflict

Millennium fellow

Kirk Allen

Digital Communications Lead, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Millennium Leadership Program

Middle East NATO Partnerships

Fellow

Hanaa Almoaibed

Nonresident senior fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Arabic Economy & Business
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