Middle East and North Africa | Council on Foreign Relations

What Is U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?

The United States has long tried to negotiate a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but several factors, including deep divisions between and within the parties and declining U.S. interest in carrying out its traditional honest-broker role, hurt the chances of a peace deal.

Backgrounder by Kali Robinson Apr 12, 2021

Did Iran Suffer a Nuclear Setback?

An explosion has caused heavy damage to an Iranian nuclear facility just as the country approaches a bold new energy partnership with China, but Iran shows no signs of slowing down its nuclear program.

In Brief by Ray Takeyh Jul 13, 2020

Who’s Who in Libya’s War?

The conflict in oil-rich Libya has become a proxy war, fueled by rival foreign powers such as Russia and Turkey.

In Brief by Kali Robinson Jun 18, 2020

Israel’s Possible Annexation of the Jordan Valley, With Martin S. Indyk

Martin S. Indyk, distinguished fellow at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s possible move to annex parts of the West Bank.

Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Martin S. Indyk Jun 23, 2020

Iran Nuclear Agreement

Iranian Compliance and the JCPOA Negotiations

Are the negotiators ignoring Iran's repeated violations and its stonewalling of the IAEA?

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams May 5, 2021 Pressure Points
Palestinian Territories

After the "Postponement" of Palestinian Elections, Now What?

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas has now “postponed” parliamentary elections scheduled for May 22. As I noted in a previous blog post and in an article in Fathom, this was no real surpri…

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams April 30, 2021 Pressure Points
Israel

More Iranian Missiles to Syria: A Problem that a "Working Group" Cannot Solve

Russia protects the shipment of precision guided missiles to Iranian proxies

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams April 28, 2021 Pressure Points

Experts in this Region

Elliott Abrams

Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies

Henri J. Barkey

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies

Robert D. Blackwill

Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy

Steven A. Cook

Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies and Director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars

Martin S. Indyk

Distinguished Fellow

Gideon Rose

Mary and David Boies Distinguished Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy

Transition 2021

Transition 2021 Series: What's Next for U.S.-Iran Relations?

Panelists discuss U.S. policy toward Iran under the Biden administration and how changes in U.S. policy will affect relations with other countries in the Middle East. The Transition 2021 series examines the major foreign policy issues confronting the Biden administration.

Virtual Event by Suzanne Maloney, Karim Sadjadpour and Amos Yadlin April 20, 2021 Transition 2021
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Thinking About the Palestinian Elections

Who gains and who loses if elections are held, or postponed

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams April 20, 2021 Pressure Points
Middle East and North Africa

How Erdogan Got His Groove Back

It’s been a difficult and dizzying few months for Turkey—which is just the way the president likes it.

Article by Steven A. Cook April 8, 2021 Middle East Program
Middle East and North Africa

U.S. Relations With Iran, 1953–2021

Onetime allies, the United States and Iran have seen tensions escalate repeatedly in the four decades since the Islamic Revolution.

Timeline by Kali Robinson April 15, 2021
Middle East and North Africa

The Natanz Blackout: Can the Iran Deal Talks Still Succeed?

Washington and Tehran seem determined to revive the deal that freezes Iran’s nuclear program, despite domestic criticism on both sides and the apparent sabotage of an Iranian facility.

In Brief by Ray Takeyh April 12, 2021 Middle East Program
Middle East and North Africa

What Is U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?

The United States has long tried to negotiate a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but several factors, including deep divisions between and within the parties and declining U.S. interest in carrying out its traditional honest-broker role, hurt the chances of a peace deal.

Backgrounder by Kali Robinson April 12, 2021
Diplomacy and International Institutions

U.S. Defense Chief Visits Israel, Iran Deal Talks Continue in Vienna, and More

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is slated to travel to Israel; talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal continue in Vienna, Austria; and Peru holds a general election.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon April 8, 2021 The World Next Week
Middle East and North Africa

Virtual Roundtable: Women’s Rights in Egypt: A Conversation with Mozn Hassan

Virtual Event by Mozn Hassan April 8, 2021 Women and Foreign Policy Program
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Reforms Should Come Before New Funding for UNRWA

The Biden administration restores funding of texts that glorify violence

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams April 8, 2021 Pressure Points
Wars and Conflict

Nonstate Warfare

Stephen Biddle explains how nonstate military strategies overturn traditional perspectives on warfare.

Book by Stephen Biddle April 6, 2021 National Security and Defense Program
Middle East and North Africa

Virtual Roundtable: Managing Global Disorder: Major Power Rivalry in the Middle East

Even as the United States debates its role in the Middle East, it still retains significant power and influence in the region. With intensifying great power competition, however, regional dynamics and the prospects for preventing, containing, and mitigating conflicts are shifting. Panelists discuss these topics and possible avenues for cooperation among the major powers. Additional Resources For further reading, please see the CFR discussion paper, "Major Power Rivalry in the Middle East" by Steven A. Cook.

Virtual Event by Anna Borshchevskaya and Steven A. Cook April 6, 2021 Center for Preventive Action
Iran Nuclear Agreement

Will the JCPOA Negotiations Abandon American Hostages in Iran?

Lifting sanctions without gaining freedom for American hostages--again.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams April 6, 2021 Pressure Points