<p>The Middle East and North Africa is the world&#39;s crossroads. It encompasses the Arabian Peninsula, the mountains of Iran, the plains of Turkey, the deserts of the Levant, the lands north of the Sahara and all coasts in between. The story of the region, as is so often the case of places stuck between foreign players, is the story of trade, exchange and conflict. The traditional powers of the region are Turkey and Iran &mdash; Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the current Arab powers &mdash; and their competition for influence over the region&#39;s weaker states makes the Middle East and North Africa an arena of violence and instability.</p>

The Middle East and North Africa encompasses the Arabian Peninsula, the mountains of Iran, the plains of Turkey, the deserts of the Levant, the lands north of the Sahara and all coasts in between.

Middle East and North Africa

Algeria

Bahrain

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Oman

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Tunisia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Western Sahara

Yemen

The Syrian Civil War

The Yemen Civil War

The Libyan Civil War

The Fight Against the Islamic State

The Saudi Survival Strategy

The Kurdish Struggle

Iran's Arc of Influence

Israel's Survival Strategy

The Difficulties of North African Reform

Egypt's Uphill Battle

The Battle for Mosul

Assessments

A digital illustration of the Turkish flag.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

Continued high inflation, political uncertainty and bureaucratic hurdles will likely limit the overall effectiveness of the reforms, which come ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Turkey Pursues Tax Reforms Amid Economic Fallout From the Iran War

Part of the gas processing facilities of Europe's first helium production pilot plant in Saint-Parize-le-Chatel, France, on Sept. 11, 2024.

Energy

Qatar's halt of helium production due to the Iran war risks causing shortages that disrupt key manufacturing industries, particularly in Asia.

How the Iran War is Choking the World's Helium Flow

Kenya

United States

China

France

United Kingdom

Boats on April 28, 2026 on Qeshm Island, Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions between the United States and Iran will remain elevated, especially around the strait, following the May 7 U.S.-Iran exchange of attacks and Iranian attacks against the United Arab Emirates.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Elevated Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, France Convenes an Africa Summit

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

People wave Iranian pre-1979 Islamic Revolution and American flags while members of the Iranian community celebrate in front of the Federal Building on March 1, in Los Angeles. 

The recent exchange of fire around the Strait of Hormuz reflects calculated efforts by Washington and Tehran to re-establish deterrence and project strength, complicating already fragile negotiations.


Iran and U.S. Exchange Fire, Further Straining Ceasefire

People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on May 6, 2026.

Israel's May 6 airstrike, which killed a top Hezbollah commander, will weaken the already tenuous April ceasefire and diminish prospects for U.S.-backed mediation, raising the risk of a return to a wider war.

Beirut Attack Further Dims Prospects for Lebanon-Israel Peace Talks

Spain

Italy

A worker stands on the uploading dock of Cavaou LNG terminal in Fos-sur-Mer, France, on June 22, 2023, while the tanker boat "Lalla Fatma N'Soumer" arrives full of LNG ready to be delivered. 

Amid energy supply disruptions in the Middle East, Algeria's ability to capitalize on increased global prices and demand for energy exports will be constrained by limited spare capacity and bureaucratic obstacles.

Structural Constraints Will Limit Algeria's Ability To Capitalize on Tighter Energy Markets

An Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft prepares for landing as a smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16.

A military response from the United States aiming to compel Iranian concessions without committing to ground operations could trigger a prolonged cycle of retaliatory attacks between U.S. allies and Iran.


Iran, U.S. Ceasefire at Elevated Risk of Collapse After Iran Attacks UAE

Australia

Japan

India

An oil products tanker at Muscat Anchorage on March 21, 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.K. Elections, Iran War Resumption Risk

An oil tanker is seen docked in the southeastern Iranian coastal city of Chabahar, on the Gulf of Oman, in February 2019.

Chabahar is poised to transition from an ambitious commercial venture to a symbolic strategic asset, as India seeks to maintain long-term access and regional influence until sanctions conditions become clearer.

Expired U.S. Sanctions Waiver Threatens India's Chabahar Port Project in Iran

Media

Podcasts

What are the key domestic pressures impacting U.S. strategy?

The Decision Advantage: The Outlook for U.S.-Iran Negotiations

Armenia

Turkey's foreign ministry said Turkey and Armenia had completed preliminary work to resume full trade ties on May 13, adding that more work still needed to be accomplished on technical connections and bureaucratic requirements before full normalization could take place, Bianet reported the same day.

Turkey, Armenia: Trade Ties To Resume, Marking Small Step Toward Normalization

Iran's deputy political director ​of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, said Tehran had redrawn the boundaries of the Strait of Hormuz to stretch from Sirri Island to Jask, increasing the Iranian definition of the strait's width tenfold, Reuters reported on May 12.

U.S., Iran: Iran Redraws the Strait of Hormuz, Trump Says Ceasefire on 'Life Support'

Ukraine

Russia

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Alex Karp, the CEO of U.S. artificial intelligence company Palantir, as Kyiv expands its use of AI in the war against Russia, Reuters reported on May 12.

Ukraine: Kyiv Expands Palantir AI Partnership as Drone War Raises the Value of Combat Data

Kuwait's Ministry of Defense alleged that a six-person team of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members attempted to commit "hostile acts" on Bubiyan Island on May 1, though the intended target and nature of the IRGC's plan were unclear, AP reported on May 12.

Kuwait, Iran: Kuwait Alleges Attempted Iranian Infiltration Operation on Bubiyan Island

Europe

Turkey intends to fully reopen its Akcakale border crossing with Syria on May 12 for the first time since the start of Syria's civil war in 2011, The New Arab reported the same day, citing officials.

Syria: Turkey To Reopen Civilian Border as EU Formalizes Sanctions Relief

Over the last two months, the United Arab Emirates has carried out multiple military strikes against Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 11, citing people familiar with the matter. 

UAE: Report Confirms UAE Military Strikes on Iran in April

Iranian news outlets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published proposals on May 9 for Iran to start charging international companies a fee to use undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran: State-Affiliated News Outlets Encourage Levies on Regional Sea Cables

In a May 10 Truth Social post, U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran's May 10 response to the latest U.S. proposal to end the war "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE."

U.S., Iran: Trump Rejects Iranian Response to U.S. Proposal

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Turkey, Armenia: Trade Ties To Resume, Marking Small Step Toward Normalization

U.S., Iran: Iran Redraws the Strait of Hormuz, Trump Says Ceasefire on 'Life Support'

Ukraine: Kyiv Expands Palantir AI Partnership as Drone War Raises the Value of Combat Data

Kuwait, Iran: Kuwait Alleges Attempted Iranian Infiltration Operation on Bubiyan Island

Syria: Turkey To Reopen Civilian Border as EU Formalizes Sanctions Relief

UAE: Report Confirms UAE Military Strikes on Iran in April

Iran: State-Affiliated News Outlets Encourage Levies on Regional Sea Cables

U.S., Iran: Trump Rejects Iranian Response to U.S. Proposal

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