<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 Emirati Ministry of Defense said in multiple May 4 statements that the United Arab Emirates' air defense systems were engaging with Iranian missiles and drones, which appear to have caused a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah.

Iran: Iran Attacks UAE, U.S. Claims It Sank Six Small Iranian Boats

The United States began a mission to "guide" stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, calling on them to transit in waters near Oman through an "enhanced security area" that could include guided-missile destroyers, aircraft and increased troop presence, though details are limited, AP reported on May 4.

U.S., Iran: U.S. Begins 'Guiding' Mission for Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Iran Launches Attacks

China

China's Ministry of Commerce issued an injunction blocking domestic compliance with U.S. sanctions on five Chinese refiners accused by Washington of buying Iranian oil, state news agency Xinhua reported on May 2.

China, U.S.: Beijing Prohibits Compliance With U.S. Sanctions Over Iran

U.S.-China Relations

Kazakhstan

The seven OPEC+ members implementing voluntary production cuts agreed to increase production by 188,000 barrels per day in June, according to a statement released on May 3. 

Global: OPEC+ Agrees to Modest but Symbolic Production Hike in First Meeting Without the UAE

Lebanon's parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said no negotiations with Israel could take place until a permanent ceasefire was established, Reuters reported on May 4.

Israel, Lebanon: Senior Lebanese Official Rejects Negotiations With Israel Before Permanent Ceasefire

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

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Iran: Iran Attacks UAE, U.S. Claims It Sank Six Small Iranian Boats

U.S., Iran: U.S. Begins 'Guiding' Mission for Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Iran Launches Attacks

China, U.S.: Beijing Prohibits Compliance With U.S. Sanctions Over Iran

Global: OPEC+ Agrees to Modest but Symbolic Production Hike in First Meeting Without the UAE

Israel, Lebanon: Senior Lebanese Official Rejects Negotiations With Israel Before Permanent Ceasefire

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

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