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The latest pieces from MENASource:


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

IranSource

Dec 19, 2018

Despite US Pressure and Decreased Popularity Among Iraqis, Iran Is Staying in Iraq

By Maysam Behravesh

The new round of US sanctions against Iran has put neighboring Iraq in a tough position.  Baghdad heavily relies on Iranian electricity and natural gas imports to meet its energy needs. A forty-five-day sanctions waiver granted to Iraq by the Trump administration in early November is set to expire this week.

Iran Iraq

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2018

Progress toward peace in Yemen, but hard work remains

By Afrah Nasser

To be sure, there are plenty of daunting issues that need to be addressed in order to achieve a lasting peace in Yemen. These issues were not addressed in the talks in Sweden.

Human Rights International Organizations

SyriaSource

Dec 18, 2018

Conflict data collection and monitoring in Syria

By Dan Henebery

In northwest Syria a small, but growing collection of private firms are working to implement technology solutions to counteract the worst effects of an aggressive disinformation campaign which threatens the relative peace that currently prevails there. On November 25, 2018, an alleged chemical attack occurred in regime-controlled areas of Aleppo, prompting Russian airstrikes against targets […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2018

US Syria envoy: Syrian Kurds’ future lies in Syria

By David A. Wemer

With ISIS mainly eradicated from Syria, Special Representative James Jeffrey’s comments could signal the Trump administration’s willingness to weaken its support for the Kurdish groups.

Syria

IranSource

Dec 18, 2018

Historical Traumas Underline Iranian Reliance on Missiles

By Sina Azodi

As the United States increases its pressure campaign against Iran, the country’s missile program has emerged as a major source of contention. However, Iran is unlikely to heed US demands to halt its development of ballistic missiles, which comprise the backbone of its defense doctrine. In order to better analyze Iran’s defense strategies, it is […]

Iran

IranSource

Dec 17, 2018

Thanks to US Sanctions, Iranians Are Turning to Bitcoin Mining

By Maziar Motamedi

Ali Hosseini is a 26-year-old with a normal nine-to-five job in Tehran. He has a bachelor’s degree in information technology and mostly works in social media and public relations. Two months ago, he bought a Bitcoin mining device with his cousin and has been mining since. Hosseini had no prior knowledge of blockchains and distributed […]

Iran

In the News

Dec 14, 2018

Slavin Quoted in BuzzFeed on fear of war in Iran

By Barbara Slavin

Read the article here.

Iran

IranSource

Dec 14, 2018

Son of the Shah says he has not met Trump administration officials

By Barbara Slavin

History, it is said, does not repeat but it can rhyme. An appearance by the son of the deposed Shah of Iran at a prominent Washington think tank on Dec. 14 was reminiscent in some ways of speeches by the late Iraqi opposition leader Ahmed Chalabi in the run-up to the 2003 US invasion of […]

Iran

IranSource

Dec 14, 2018

Q&A: Nader Uskowi on the IRGC’s ‘Temperature Rising’

By Holly Dagres

Nonresident senior fellow Nader Uskowi talks about his new book, Temperature Rising: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Wars in the Middle East. Uskowi discusses with IranSource the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) inside Iran and the Middle East, what the West is getting wrong about the elite force, and the challenges the IRGC is […]

Iran

Report

Dec 13, 2018

Rethinking stabilization in Eastern Syria: Toward a human security framework

By Steven Heydemann

As the United States faces important decisions regarding its future role in Syria’s conflict, a new Atlantic Council report by Dr. Steven Heydemann, “Rethinking Stabilization in Eastern Syria: Toward a Human Security Framework,” provides important context, analysis, and strategic policy recommendations. Only two areas in Syria remain outside of the control of the Assad regime, […]

Syria
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Experts

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

Fellow

Newton Howard

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Artificial Intelligence English

Fellow

Len Khodorkovsky

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English
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