<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

United States

Australia

Japan

United Kingdom

India

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

Military & Security

Politics

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

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

U.S.-Iran Relations

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

Economics

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

Snapshots

The skyline of Dubai is seen on March 11, 2026.

Energy

The UAE's exit will enable it to boost production more quickly once shipping through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes, while hindering OPEC's ability to manage the subsequent price drops.

The UAE's Exit From OPEC Further Diminishes the Oil Cartel's Relevance

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard next to a national flag as pilgrims march from the center of Baghdad toward the shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim, the seventh of 12 revered imams in Shiite Islam, during an annual religious commemoration on Feb. 16, 2023.

Ali al-Zaidi's lack of experience and ties to a U.S.-sanctioned bank will complicate his attempts to form a government by the constitutional deadline.

Iraq's Prime Minister-Designate Likely To Struggle To Form Government

The city skyline in Dubai is seen at sunset.

Although Gulf capitals are increasingly investing in mid-tier autonomy and offensive capabilities, achieving total strategic independence remains constrained by their enduring need for high-end American systems.

The Future of GCC Defense and Security Strategies in a Changing Middle East

South Korea

Vietnam

Europe

Russia

Employees walk at the construction site of a gas metering station, part of the pipeline link between Bulgaria and Greece near the village of Malko Kadievo, on March 18, 2022. 

The Weekly Rundown: No U.S.-Iran Breakthrough, EU Ban on Spot Market Russian LNG

Social Issues

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Flatlining population growth will leave the Gulf Arab states reliant on specialized, high-tech militaries that are supplanted by foreign forces, exposing them to various long-term security vulnerabilities.

The Demographic Drag on Gulf States' Military Strength

The Albina Bulk carrier sits anchored on March 22, 2026, at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman.

The ceasefire extension will likely prolong the U.S. and Iran's focus on economic pressure to gain leverage ahead of new talks, but this phase of unstable diplomacy could easily give way to another round of military escalation.

Ceasefire, Blockades and Bargaining: The Volatile Outlook for U.S.-Iran Relations

The exterior facade of the new headquarters of Egypt's central bank is seen at the New Administrative Capital megaproject about 45 kilometers east of the current capital, Cairo, on Aug. 1, 2023. 

Egypt will try to avoid submitting to another IMF loan program, which would likely require unpopular austerity and privatization measures. But the escalating economic impact of the Iran war may eventually force its hand.

Iran War Fallout Could Force Egypt to Seek Another Unpopular IMF Bailout

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control warned on May 1 that U.S. and non-U.S. entities that make payments to Iran as part of its toll system for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz were at risk of incurring U.S. sanctions.

U.S: OFAC Threatens To Sanction Entities Paying Iran's Strait of Hormuz 'Toll'

Iran sent a revised peace proposal for the United States to Pakistan, the two countries' mediator, even as U.S. forces remain positioned in the region for a resumed strike campaign, Reuters reported on May 1.

U.S., Iran: Tehran Sends New Peace Proposal Amid U.S. Military Positioning

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to be briefed on April 30 on U.S. Central Command's military plans against Iran, including "short and powerful strikes," Axios reported the same day.

U.S., Iran: Trump To Be Briefed on Potential U.S. Military Options Against Iran

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israel's navy intercepted nearly half of a fresh humanitarian flotilla attempting to break its blockade of the Gaza Strip, the first such interception since Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire in September 2025, The Times of Israel reported on April 30.

MENA: Israel Tightens Control of Gaza, but Renewed Offensive Remains Unlikely Amid Instability in Lebanon

U.S. President Donald Trump told aides to prepare for a protracted blockade of Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported April 28, citing U.S. officials.

U.S., Iran: Trump Tells Aides to Prepare for a Prolonged Blockade of Iran

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Israel for allowing the Panama-flagged cargo ship Panormitis, which is allegedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain, to dock in Haifa and threatened to coordinate with European partners to apply sanctions against involved Israeli entities, Ukrainska Pravda reported on April 28.

Ukraine, Israel: Kyiv Threatens Sanctions Over Grain Ship

Kazakhstan

Environment, Science & Technology

Israeli President Isaac Herzog paid an official visit to Kazakhstan on April 27-28, where he met President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and other senior officials to discuss trade, technology, artificial intelligence and political ties, KazTAG reported on April 27. 

Kazakhstan, Israel: Herzog Visit Will Deepen Political and Dual-Use Tech Ties

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's General Inspectorate of Mines announced plans to create a paramilitary "mining guard" to protect mining sites and mineral shipments across the country with funding from the United States and the United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg reported on April 27.

Congo: Authorities To Establish Paramilitary Unit To Protect Mining Sites With U.S., UAE Funding

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S: OFAC Threatens To Sanction Entities Paying Iran's Strait of Hormuz 'Toll'

U.S., Iran: Tehran Sends New Peace Proposal Amid U.S. Military Positioning

U.S., Iran: Trump To Be Briefed on Potential U.S. Military Options Against Iran

MENA: Israel Tightens Control of Gaza, but Renewed Offensive Remains Unlikely Amid Instability in Lebanon

U.S., Iran: Trump Tells Aides to Prepare for a Prolonged Blockade of Iran

Ukraine, Israel: Kyiv Threatens Sanctions Over Grain Ship

Kazakhstan, Israel: Herzog Visit Will Deepen Political and Dual-Use Tech Ties

Congo: Authorities To Establish Paramilitary Unit To Protect Mining Sites With U.S., UAE Funding

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