Lebanon’s Aoun could move toward peace – if Hezbollah lets him
The Iran-backed militia is bowed but not broken – and it could still find a way to hijack Saudi funds for its own rehabilitation
Gulf
Iran, Arabic media focus on ceasefire talks
At BRICS summit, leaders of Arab countries, along with Brazil, China, Russia, India, and South Africa discuss ceasefire.
Op-eds
Iran looks for a plan on day 17 of the war
In a search to find a way to keep their initiative against Israel going, Iran has tried to mobilize militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Op-eds
The Saudi-Iran Agreement: Should Washington Be Worried?
While a few statements and photo ops here and there might suggest that Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) is in the process of replacing Saudi Arabia’s traditional partner,...
Op-eds
The Road to Israel-Saudi Normalization Runs Through Washington
Open ties between the two nations are in everyone’s interest, but it will take serious intent and deft maneuvering from America to get there. Is the administration up to it?
Op-eds
The New Saudi State Sets Off Into Uncharted Geopolitical Waters
Far from being uncooperative, Saudi Arabia under MBS is playing precisely the regional role that Obama and Biden have long demanded—only more so
Op-eds
Biden’s diplomacy without deadlines erodes US-Gulf alliance
Whatever its Gulf policy, the Biden administration’s approach should be coherent, but that has simply not been the case
Op-eds
Will Turkey’s Détente with Egypt and the Gulf Extend to the Horn of Africa?
Although the extent to which the climate of détente will affect the Horn is not certain, the relative calm offers a unique opportunity for Washington to claim leadership and prevent the kind of violent rivalry that proved disastrous in Syria and Libya.
Op-eds
China’s surprising drone sales in the Middle East
The Biden administration plans to move forward with $23 billion in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, according to press reports published last week. The sales include F-35 aircraft, MQ-9B...
Op-eds
Unfinished Business
How a Department of Justice forfeiture complaint may be an opening gambit against Iranian sanctions’ evasion.
Op-eds
Kuwait and Oman Are Stuck in Arab No Man’s Land
Just over a year ago, four of America’s Arab allies — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt — severed relations with Qatar, another key U.S. ally. They enac...
Op-eds
Gulf States Crack Down on Iran’s Illicit Finance
Sixty members of the Iranian parliament sent President Hassan Rouhani a...
Policy Briefs
Ripples in the Gulf: GCC States’ Reaction to Withdrawal from Iran Deal Reflects Disunity
President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal prompted reactions from the Gulf States ranging from enthusiasm to regret. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members’ divergen...
Policy Briefs
Cairo’s Warm Welcome for Saudi Crown Prince
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched his...
Policy Briefs
Iran’s relationship with Qatar could be polarizing
Tensions between the Gulf states and Qatar developed into an outright feud last June as a result of Qatar’s drift toward Iran, which led the Saudis and their partners to impose a boycott an...
Op-eds
The Qatar Quarrel Benefits the U.S.
It is no secret that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been at odds with President Trump on a range of issues. One of them is the U.S. response to the spat that erupted in early June between Q...
Op-eds
Qatar is worst in the region on counterterrorism, but other Gulf monarchies are not off the hook
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reportedly ...
Op-eds
Assessing the U.S.-Qatar Relationship
Download the full testimony here....
Congressional Testimonies
It’s Time for the Trump Administration to Step Up in the Qatar Crisis
Late last week, the Gulf crisis took a new turn when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain at long last presented the regime in Qatar with a ...
Op-eds
Qatar vs. Saudi Arabia: How Iran and the Brotherhood Tore the Gulf Apart
The Gulf monarchies face the most serious crisis in their history. It is largely being covered as a diplomatic spat, since several Arab nations terminated their relations with Qatar on Monday to...