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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

In the News

Nov 22, 2018

Bryza Joins Azerbaijan’s CBC TV to Discuss Washington’s Iran Sanctions

By Matthew Bryza

Watch the full discussion here.

Iran

In the News

Nov 21, 2018

Shaffer in Reuters: The missing catalyst for Iranian democracy

Read the article here.

Iran

MENASource

Nov 20, 2018

Reviving peace talks in Yemen: What comes next

By Jessica Levy and Paul R. Williams

With the high and ever-growing civilian death toll of Yemen’s civil war, the acute need for peace contrasts sharply with the sparse hopes of a peace process. After months of delays, the government and rebel forces announced on November 19 their intentions to temporarily freeze military operations and convene for negotiations in Sweden. The success of these talks will depend on whether the parties can effectively apply the lessons of past peace talks to structure a new peace process for Yemen.

Yemen

In the News

Nov 20, 2018

Wald in Forbes: Why Trump’s Stance On Saudi Arabia Is Actually Slap In The Face To The Monarchy

By Ellen Wald

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

IranSource

Nov 20, 2018

How Rouhani Can Use the Industry Sector to Help Iran’s Economy

By Navid Kalhor

With four new ministers in President Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet to help salvage the Iranian economy, it’s too soon to see the genuine impact just yet. But what is evident is that the new economic measures, if any, should focus on improving the ease of doing business in the wake of reimposed US sanctions. Having that […]

Economy & Business Iran

MENASource

Nov 19, 2018

Saudi Arabia: Review the bidding now

By Frederic C. Hof

Reports that the CIA has concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi add weight and urgency to something recommended by this writer weeks ago: The United States should undertake a comprehensive, bottom-up national security review of the bilateral relationship with the Saudi Kingdom and its impact on American interests in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia

SyriaSource

Nov 19, 2018

One group’s work to stabilize Syria

By Reema Hibrawi

Few major implementors currently exist in Syria developing and executing projects to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure ranging from roads, buildings, healthcare system, agriculture and irrigation systems, to the electrical grid. Though a number of reasons limit the existence of project implementors, the primary reason is the ongoing conflict and lack of stability. A lack of […]

Syria

IranSource

Nov 19, 2018

New Wave of Sanctions Spurs Iranian Political Repositioning

By Giorgia Perletta

While ordinary Iranians struggle to find imported medicine and buy basic foods due to re-imposed sanctions, the political debate inside the Islamic Republic is anything but static. As announced, the new wave of US secondary sanctions came into force on November 5. This came after unsuccessful efforts by Europe to dissuade President Donald Trump from […]

Iran

IranSource

Nov 19, 2018

Why Iran won’t succumb to Trump’s sanctions

By Amir Handjani

The Trump administration has put into place a punishing new wave of sanctions against Iran that targets critical components of the Iranian economy from banks to energy, shipping and insurance. From the start of his administration, President Donald Trump has insisted that he can coerce Iran into reaching a “better deal” than the 2015 Joint […]

Iran

MENASource

Nov 16, 2018

Turkish policy in Syria: Divining intent and options for the United States

By Aaron Stein

Turkey was once the main sponsor of the Syrian opposition’s effort to topple Bashar al Assad. However, beginning in late 2016, Turkish policy has shifted following the Russian defeat of Turkish backed proxies in Aleppo. This change in policy sparked a reassessment of Turkish strategy away from the overthrow of the regime and towards close cooperation with Russia and competition with the United States.

Syria Turkey
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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
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