Middle East

Middle East

Stretching from the Western Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, the Middle East continues to be a region struggling with violent conflict, political repression, and poor development. Numerous pro-democracy protest movements, a burgeoning youth population, and efforts to reform governments and lessen economic dependence on oil, however, are causes for optimism. The United States and the international community must remain engaged with the region to provide support for these positive moves and to address the many remaining challenges.

Explore

Stay Updated

The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

Oct 8, 2026

Israel and Turkey are not natural rivals. It’s time to stop treating them that way. 

By Alissa Pavia

The West should find ways of managing rather than entrenching both countries further into this competition.

Conflict Geopolitics & Energy Security

MENASource

Oct 1, 2026

Resilience has a cost. So does complacency.

By Khalid Azim

Gulf countries need to work together to build resilience, as they face new stresses from the Iran War.

Infrastructure Resilience

MENASource

Sep 28, 2026

What’s behind the Algeria-UAE rupture

By Karim Mezran

Algeria's severing of diplomatic ties with the UAE reflects a broader struggle over regional influence and sovereignty.

Middle East North Africa
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

Event Recap

Nov 27, 2018

Iran sanctions, OPEC and Trump: where are oil markets moving?

By Ellen R. Wald

On Tuesday, November 27, in Istanbul, the Atlantic Council IN TURKEY hosted Atlantic Council Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ellen R. Wald for a talk entitled “Iran Sanctions, OPEC and Trump: Where Are Oil Markets Moving?” to a roundtable that featured a discussion about the likely impact of the new U.S. sanctions on Iran and […]

Energy Markets & Governance Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Nov 26, 2018

Shaffer in Irish Examiner: Escalating Fear and Loathing in Iran

By Brenda Shaffer

Read the full article here.

Iran

IranSource

Nov 26, 2018

Time is running short for Europe to save the Iran nuclear agreement

By Bijan Ahmadi and Younes Zangiabadi

“You cannot swim without getting wet,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the annual International Mediterranean Dialogues Conference last week, signaling that Iran is losing patience with European leaders and expects the European Union (EU) to back up its political support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with concrete actions. Six months […]

European Union International Organizations

Inflection Points

Nov 25, 2018

Saudi war games

By Frederick Kempe

Without its values as a guide, the United States loses its unique attraction as a global power. Yet values alone would have failed to win the Cold War against the Soviet Union – and will likely fail now in the Middle East as well.  

Conflict National Security

In the News

Nov 24, 2018

Slavin Quoted in Daily Star on Iran Weapons

By Barbara Slavin

Read the full article here.

Iran

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
Load More

Experts

Fellow

C. Anthony Pfaff

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Staff

Emilia Pierce

Deputy Director, Operations and Finance

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Conflict

Fellow

Priya Pillai

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Conflict

Fellow

Alan Pino

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Intelligence Iran

Fellow

Leah Pisar

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Education

Fellow

Alex Plitsas

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan Crisis Management
Load More

Events

Online Event Thu, October 15, 2026 • 4:00 pm ET

Brett McGurk on ‘Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages’
Israel Middle East Politics & Diplomacy