Stay Updated

The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

Sep 19, 2025

How Israel’s strike on Doha is forcing a Gulf security reckoning

By Giorgio Cafiero

Israel’s September 9 military strike on Qatar marks a major escalation in regional tensions and presents Doha with an urgent new security dilemma. For Qatar, the attack raises fears of joining a growing list of Arab states that have been subjected to Israeli military aggression. Although the strike targeted Qatar specifically, the other Gulf Cooperation […]

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Sep 19, 2025

Snapback sanctions threaten to further derail Iran nuclear deal hopes

By Rob Macaire

Now would be the best time for the West to negotiate a deal with Iran—but snapback sanctions threaten a derailing into further confrontation.

Economic Sanctions Iran

MENASource

Sep 18, 2025

Libya’s stalled transition: When domestic spoilers meet foreign interests

By Luis Aleman and Karim Mezran

Libya’s stalled transition has not happened by chance; it has been deliberately engineered into paralysis by both domestic spoilers and foreign powers.

Libya Middle East
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

MENASource

Jul 18, 2019

Expert rapid response: Erbil attack

By MENASource

On Wednesday July 17, 2019 a shooting took place in a restaurant in Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, that allegedly killed a Turkish diplomat serving in the consulate, Osman Kose, and two Iraqi civilians. Reports claim that three assailants with alleged Islamic State (ISIS) allegiances were behind the shooting and quickly killed as well although investigations are still pending. No group claimed the attack with the PKK spokesperson denying its involvement.

Iraq

MENASource

Jul 18, 2019

Poor air quality and lost economic opportunities

By Mahmoud Abouelnaga

Air quality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has deteriorated dramatically over the last few decades. Recent research on global level of pollution ranked Cairo as the most polluted city in the world. The situation in other major cities in the region is not very different from the Egyptian capital. The region has witnessed major shifts in energy production and consumption trends over the last few decades which contribute to high levels of air pollution.

Middle East

IranSource

Jul 18, 2019

Trump’s Iran policy is undermining Gulf oil security

By Hadi Fathallah

How many oil tankers laden with Saudi or Emirati oil need to be attacked around the Strait of Hormuz for the US to use force in the Gulf? That is not an American problem, according to US President Donald Trump.

Iran Saudi Arabia

SyriaSource

Jul 17, 2019

Getting out – again?

By Frederic C. Hof

Will allies and partners be certain of American steadfastness? Can American officials genuinely claim to know the commander-in-chief’s intent? President Trump may not wish to make Iran’s day by gifting northeastern Syria to it, Russia, and the Assad regime.

Syria

In the News

Jul 17, 2019

Duclos interviewed in France24 on the Syrian conflict

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Syria

In the News

Jul 17, 2019

Slavin quoted in Middle East eye on Iranian opposition group MEK

By Atlantic Council

Iran

In the News

Jul 16, 2019

Slavin quoted in National Catholic Reporter on US-Iran tensions

By Atlantic Council

Economic Sanctions Iran

In the News

Jul 16, 2019

Slavin quoted in USNI News on Iranian succession

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions Iran

MENASource

Jul 16, 2019

A shift in Iraqi politics: An opposition emerges

By Rend al-Rahim

Since 2003, the principle of multi-party consensus has defined Iraq’s political system. This formula was deemed best for Iraq during a transition period, and it relied on the existence of broad sectarian and ethnic coalitions.

Iraq
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani visiting an oil refinery in Bandar Abbas (Photo: baorco.ir)

IranSource

Jul 16, 2019

Iran’s crude oil exports: what minimum is enough to stay afloat?

By Mohsen Tavakol

With the US aiming to bring Iran’s petroleum exports to a complete stop through imposed sanctions, and Iran’s dependence on petroleum revenues, the Iranian government will do its utmost to secure the minimum required oil exports. But, what is that minimum? In order to perhaps find an answer, one needs to understand current Iranian macroeconomics.

Economy & Business Iran
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Owen J. Daniels

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Nicholas Hopton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Iran

Millennium fellow

Said El Khoury

Senior Piping Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Middle East

Fellow

Amir Asmar

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Intelligence Israel

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Staff

Kayra Sener 

Program Assistant, Realign for Palestine

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Realign For Palestine

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
Load More