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MENASource

Sep 23, 2025

A geography of protest: Inside the rise of Iran’s minority factor

By
Mohammed A. Salih

From the death of Mahsa Jina Amini to the Twelve Day War, the ethnic question has emerged as a significant dimension of Iran’s politics.

Civil Society
Iran


MENASource

Sep 23, 2025

Iran’s minorities and policy complexity: A look at two communities

By
David Sklar

Iran plays a significant role in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Policymakers should develop a sober, accurate mapping of its population.

Civil Society
Iran


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

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.

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Content

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

IranSource

Dec 13, 2018

Mitigating Iran sanctions: The case for a humanitarian SPV

By Axel Hellman

As part of its efforts to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, Europe is on the verge of launching a special purpose vehicle (SPV)—a payment mechanism described as “a legal entity to facilitate legitimate financial transactions with Iran.” Yet while Europeans see this mechanism as both legitimate and necessary, the SPV is regarded by the Trump administration as an […]

European Union International Organizations

IranSource

Dec 12, 2018

Can Brazil’s Relationship With Iran Survive a New Administration?

By Fatemeh Aman

The trade and economic partnership between Iran and Brazil has expanded in recent years and was slated to grow even further after the completion of the Iran nuclear dealin 2015. But questions are being raised about this relationship after the victory of President-elect Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil is Iran’s seventh-largest trade partner and by far its most important economic […]

Brazil Iran

IranSource

Dec 11, 2018

Iran Leans on UN Security Council Legitimacy to Blunt US Pressure

By Noah Annan

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used to denigrate United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions as “worthless paper.” That is not the case anymore. In the aftermath of the US unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal codified by UNSC resolution 2231, Iranian diplomats are embracing this element of international legality to accuse the Trump administration of wrongdoing.

International Organizations Iran

In the News

Dec 10, 2018

Ullman in UPI: Trump undone: Saudi prince, ‘Tariff Man,’ Bush comparisons

By Harlan Ullman

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Dec 10, 2018

One year post-ISIS: Iraq is on the right path, but must take further steps

By Abbas Kadhim

On December 10, 2017, former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in the battle to liberate Iraqi territories from the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The Iraqi Army, Special Forces, and Federal Police, supported by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMFs) and the Peshmerga, fought for every inch of territory that was occupied by the terrorist group. Iraq was not alone in this fight. An international coalition, led by the United States, offered significant military help in the form of air support, logistics, and invaluable advisory assistance on the ground.

Iraq

SyriaSource

Dec 10, 2018

Syria, Israel, and the Golan

By Frederic C. Hof

In mid-November 2018, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for a resolution demanding, among other things, “that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan . . .” With only Israel and the United States voting “no,” 151 members of the General Assembly told Israel to withdraw from territory occupied since June 1967 and […]

Israel Syria

IranSource

Dec 10, 2018

New Tehran Mayor Takes Office After Controversy

By Tahereh Hadian-Jazy

Pirouz Hanachi was narrowly elected mayor of Tehran last month by the capital’s city council, besting former roads and urban development minister Amir-Abbas Akhoundi by one vote—eleven to ten. Hanachi replaces Mohammad Ali Afshani as the third mayor of the capital in the council’s current term. However, the Interior Ministry delayed accepting his election and officially ratifying […]

Iran
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Experts

Staff

Landon Derentz

Vice President, Energy and Infrastructure

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Middle East

Fellow

Haydee Dijkstal

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Corruption

Staff

Kimberly Donovan

Director, Economic Statecraft Initiative

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economic Sanctions

Fellow

Lama El Hatow

Nonresident Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

Millennium fellow

Hamzeh El Jerbi

Estimation Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Australia Economy & Business

Staff

Alex Elnagdy

Associate Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Arabic Energy & Environment
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