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MENASource

Sep 19, 2025

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

By
Giorgio Cafiero

The Gulf monarchies have displayed strong unity at a time when rethinking twenty-first-century Gulf security is no longer optional.

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

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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

Mar 6, 2019

Slavin in Al-Monitor: US Government No Longer Excludes MEK as Leadership Options in Iran

By Barbara Slavin

Read the full article here

Iran

In the News

Mar 6, 2019

Hof Quoted in WSJ on How the Syrian Regime Has Prevailed

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here

Syria

IranSource

Mar 6, 2019

UK blacklisting of Hezbollah is making Iran hesitant to join FATF

By Maysam Behravesh

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s much-publicized resignation was largely attributed to the existence of parallel power structures in Iran that adversely affect many areas of policymaking and governance, including foreign policy. One policy issue that has caused a great deal of controversy among Iran’s ruling elite is whether to implement requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) […]

Iran Middle East

MENASource

Mar 5, 2019

Are the mass protests in Algeria signs of the Arab Spring 2.0?

By Sarah Aljishi and Ellen Jacobs

The recent demonstrations in Algeria are the latest indicators of a shifting tide. The majority of the population has become disenchanted with the elite—or the “pouvoir.” In addition to their commitment to old values and unfulfilled promises, they maintain a tight control over the government. Now, younger Algerians are taking to the streets to show their frustration.

North Africa

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2019

US consulate closure in Jerusalem puts commitment to Middle East peace in question

By James B. Cunningham

Ambassador James Cunningham explains why the Jerusalem consulate was so important for US-Palestinian relations.

Israel Middle East

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2019

Some child soldiers get rehabilitation, others get prison

By Jo Becker

With the rise of violent extremist groups, many countries have adopted much more aggressive counterterrorism measures, including a marked increase in the detention and prosecution of children.

Iraq Terrorism

IranSource

Feb 27, 2019

The pictures which forced Zarif to resign reveal deep problems in the Iranian system

By Shahir Shahidsaless

The resignation of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif came as a shock, and not just due to the delivery system. He made the announcement on an Instagram post addressed to his followers instead of official channels. The timing was suspect as well. Zarif decided to leave office just as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made […]

Iran

In the News

Feb 27, 2019

Dagres in TIME: Why It’s Good for the West That Iran’s Foreign Minister Isn’t Resigning

By Holly Dagres

Read the full article here.

Iran

MENASource

Feb 27, 2019

Algerian demonstrations: What they mean for the future of the elite and the country

By Karim Mezran and Erin A. Neale

Algerian elites are missing a Leopardian moment. Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa’s masterpiece, the Leopard—which has become a staple of political science—, expresses the intrinsic idea that elites must change in order to remain elites.

North Africa

SyriaSource

Feb 26, 2019

Syrian refugees’ struggle with temporary status in Germany

By Hosam al-Jablawi

Just a few months separated the arrival of Syrian refugees Ahmad al-’Awda and his friend Mahmud al-Agha to Germany. Both of them fled from the war in their country that started in 2011. Al-’Awda arrived in Germany in January 2016 and al-Agha arrived in May 2015. This short eight month difference separating their arrivals was enough to guarantee that al-’Awda would not be able to apply to bring his family, who are still in Syria, because he did not get permanent residency in Germany. Rather, due to a series of laws, the German authorities have been granting only temporary residence papers to Syrian refugees.

Germany Syria
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Experts

Staff

Kate Springs

Program Assistant, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Human Rights International Norms

Fellow

Afaq Hussain

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Millennium fellow

Bushra Shammout

Head of Energy Security Winter Preparedness Strategy and Ministerial Briefing, Department of Energy Security and Net Zero

Millennium Leadership Program

Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security

Fellow

Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Energy & Environment

Fellow

Hany Ghanem

Nonresident senior fellow

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

Americas Arabic

Millennium fellow

Hasan Nabulsi

Communications and Media Manager, Office of the Crown Prince of Jordan

Millennium Leadership Program

Media Middle East
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