Sanctions historically work to subject a country's people, rather than its government, to poverty and undermine the populations welfare, as is ocurring in Iran right now.

Reza Aslan says the question isn't whether Islam promotes democracy, but rather do Muslims promote democracy, remarking that there are some who do and some who don't, as is the case with followers of every religious tradition on earth."

Economic woes caused by sanctions and mismanagement, coupled with an upcoming political transition, have created new uncertainties in Iran, says expert Farideh Farhi.

In a new article for Foreign Policy, Blake Clayton argues that it's Western politicians, not Arabian sheikhs or OPEC officials, who are roiling the oil markets today.

Meghan L. O'Sullivan says doing more to help the budding democracies in the Arab world isn't just in the interest of Arabs, who are deserving of a better future, but also of the United States, which needs better partners in this part of the world.

Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi discusses Iranian foreign policy in the Middle East.

Micah Zenko says even though telling the United States that it should be more scared of Iran has failed so far, Israeli officials will continue to sound the alarm about a nuclear-armed Tehran, with the ultimate objective of changing America's threat perception.

Shibley Telhami and film director Soraya Umewaka discuss the film Tomorrow We Will See, which follows a new generation of artists and designers living in Beirut.

Shibley Telhami and film director Soraya Umewaka discuss the film Tomorrow We Will See, which follows a new generation of artists and designers living in Beirut.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wrote this op-ed on the Middle East; it was published in the Wall Street Journal on September 30, 2012.

Palestinian Authority president Abbas gave these remarks to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2012.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu gave these remarks to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2012.

Jeffrey H. Smith and John B. Bellinger III say that because a nuclear-armed Iran is a real threat to the United States, the president does have reason to argue for his constitutional authority to use force against Iran, but legislative approval would give him stronger legal and political ground to do so.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave these remarks to the UN General Assembly on September 26, 2012.

Michael Scott Doran and Max Boot lay out five reasons for why the United States should intervene in Syria, arguing that President Obama is forgoing his "lead from behind" approach where it would benefit the United States the most.

Syria's civil war, at its core a sectarian conflict, is viewed through the eyes of a fearful Alawite minority.

The counterinsurgency in Syria yielded a destructive power that terrorized and forced Syria's propertied class into submission.

The UN General Assembly will likely address two "lightning rod" issues: ending the bloodshed in Syria and curbing Iran's nuclear development, says CFR's Stewart Patrick.

Blake Clayton argues for greater transparency about the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve's capabilities to release oil to the market, particularly in light of profound recent changes in the North American oil landscape.

Though Iran might be capable of making a nuclear weapon soon, whether it has decided to is up for debate and calls into question the pressure for immediate military action, says expert David Albright.