<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

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

South Asia

A farmer sprinkles fertilizer over a crop of cauliflower on the outskirts of Bangalore, India, in November 2020.

Economics

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

The Strait of Hormuz blockade is straining global supplies of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers, which could lead to lower crop yields, higher food prices and fiscal strain for agricultural producers if the disruptions persist.

Assessing the Iran War's Impact on Global Fertilizer Supplies

United States

Europe

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026. 

Military & Security

A U.S.-led naval mission to protect ships from Iranian attacks would likely begin only after the war's intensity decreases, and even then, it would take weeks to organize and yield only a limited return of maritime traffic through the strait.

The Obstacles Facing the U.S. Plan for Strait of Hormuz Naval Escorts

Smoke plumes rise above a village in southern Lebanon following Israeli airstrikes on March 16, 2026.

Politics

Even if it engages in direct talks with Lebanon, Israel is unlikely to de-escalate its military operations in the country without major concessions on border security and Hezbollah's disarmament.

Hezbollah-Israel War Set To Intensify, Despite Lebanon's Diplomatic Push

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Social Issues

Demographics may not be destiny, but it does play a major role in questions of national power.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: An Introduction

China

Japan

Ukraine

A large plume of smoke rises March 7 over Tehran after explosions were reported in the Iranian capital during the night.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: The Iran War Continues, Takaichi Meets With Trump

U.S.-Iran Relations

Media

Podcasts

What will happen to U.S. interest rates if the war continues?

The Decision Advantage: Economic Impacts of the War on Iran

Pakistan

A digital illustration of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s national flags.

Despite having a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will likely only provide the kingdom with low-level defensive and technical support, rather than direct military intervention against Iran, due to various constraints.

In a War With Iran, the Pakistani-Saudi Defense Pact Has Limits 

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran, Iran, on March 7, 2026.

Limited commando raids are Trump's most viable option, as larger ground incursions in Iran would face severe logistical, political and strategic risks and remain unlikely without a major shift in regional and U.S. domestic support.

Strategic Risks and Political Hurdles for a U.S. Ground War in Iran

People attend the funeral of a person killed during an Iranian drone attack on a high-rise apartment building in Bahrain's capital, Manama, on March 10, 2026.

A sharp rise in domestic sectarian issues and disruptions to key exports through the Strait of Hormuz are converging to threaten the political and economic stability of the kingdom.

Iran War Exposes Bahrain to Fiscal Risks, Sectarian Tensions

Snapshots

Demonstrators wave Iranian national flags and hold pictures of the country's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, at Enghelab Square in central Tehran on March 9, 2026.

The selection of hard-line cleric Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his slain father will entrench Tehran's resolve to continue the war and preserve its ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

Iran's New Supreme Leader Will Strengthen Hard-Liner Influence

Cyber

The FBI seized two websites affiliated with Iran-linked hacktivists known as Handala, TechCrunch reported on March 19.

Iran, U.S.: FBI Seizes Infrastructure of Iran-Linked Group Behind Stryker Hack

Chad

Sudan

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby ordered the military to retaliate against any Sudanese armed groups after a drone strike killed at least 16 civilians near the Sudan-Chad frontier, Sudan Tribune reported on March 18.

Chad: President Authorizes Military Response to Sudanese Cross-Border Strikes

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on March 19-20 for a summit dominated by the fallout from the Iran conflict, particularly emergency options to curb surging energy prices, Politico reported on March 19, citing draft EU documents. 

EU: EU Leaders Debate Emergency Energy Measures as Iran Conflict Drives Prices Higher

Oil-loading operations in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, resumed after being temporarily halted following staff evacuations due to Iranian attacks targeting the Saudi-ExxonMobil Samref refinery on the Red Sea, Reuters reported on March 19.

Saudi Arabia, Iran: Yanbu Port Operations Resume After Iran-Linked Disruption

An Iranian lawmaker said the parliament was considering placing transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported on March 19.

Iran: Tehran Weighs Transit Fees on Ships Passing Through the Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. Trump administration is considering deploying "thousands" of U.S. troops to the Middle East amid the war with Iran, Reuters reported on March 18.

U.S., Iran: Washington Considers Large Troop Deployment to Iran

In a March 18 statement, QatarEnergy said the Ras Laffan Industrial City, which is the primary hub for Qatar's liquefied natural gas exports and liquefaction trains, suffered "extensive damage" in Iranian missile strikes that evening.

Qatar: Ras Laffan LNG Hub Suffers 'Extensive Damage' in Iranian Missile Strikes

Afghanistan

Pakistan's information minister announced on March 18 a pause on strikes in Afghanistan beginning midnight the same day and extending through midnight on March 23, AP reported on March 18.

Pakistan, Afghanistan: Islamabad Announces Days-Long Pause on Strikes Following Foreign Pressure

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Iran, U.S.: FBI Seizes Infrastructure of Iran-Linked Group Behind Stryker Hack

Chad: President Authorizes Military Response to Sudanese Cross-Border Strikes

EU: EU Leaders Debate Emergency Energy Measures as Iran Conflict Drives Prices Higher

Saudi Arabia, Iran: Yanbu Port Operations Resume After Iran-Linked Disruption

Iran: Tehran Weighs Transit Fees on Ships Passing Through the Strait of Hormuz

U.S., Iran: Washington Considers Large Troop Deployment to Iran

Qatar: Ras Laffan LNG Hub Suffers 'Extensive Damage' in Iranian Missile Strikes

Pakistan, Afghanistan: Islamabad Announces Days-Long Pause on Strikes Following Foreign Pressure

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