<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

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks as special envoys Jared Kushner (L) and Steve Witkoff listen during a news conference after a meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran on April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

Politics

The U.S. blockade may not immediately collapse the ceasefire with Iran, but it will further disrupt maritime shipping and the global economy.

After U.S.-Iran Talks Fail, Washington Moves To Blockade the Strait of Hormuz

Canada

Peru

China

Vietnam

Hungary

A digital screen displaying news of U.S.-Iran peace talks April 10 in Islamabad. The United States and Iran are set to begin contentious talks April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan, with disputes over the 10-point proposal as a framework for discussions and major gaps between U.S. and Iranian demands.

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.S.-Iran Talks, Hungarians Vote

U.S.-Iran Relations

A satellite view of the Persian Gulf, with the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint seen on the right.

Global Trade

Fears that U.S.-Iran talks will collapse, along with Iran's ongoing efforts to formalize its authority over the strait by imposing transit fees and limiting traffic, will likely keep shippers cautious.

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Likely To Remain Disrupted, Despite Ceasefire

Media

Cuba

Mexico

Venezuela

Taiwan

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Second-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Second-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Snapshots

Iranians hold national flags as they gather in Tehran's Revolution Square after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, on April 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

Upcoming negotiations face substantial hurdles as both sides present maximalist demands that could precipitate a return to high-intensity conflict.


Despite 11th-Hour U.S.-Iran Truce, Stumbling Blocks to Lasting Agreement Remain

Columns

On Geopolitics

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Geopolitics of Demographics

Social Issues

Demographic decline, driven by falling fertility rates worldwide, is likely irreversible but will also increasingly differentiate countries based on their ability to adapt through sound immigration, labor, technological and fiscal policies.

Adapting to Demographic Decline: Policy Tradeoffs and Global Divergences

Myanmar

Afghanistan

India

Nepal

Pakistan

A freight train carrying cargo containers rides along a railway track in Ajmer, India, on Aug. 26, 2025.

New Delhi's decisions to permit specific imports and fast-track minority investments highlight its strategy of addressing critical manufacturing shortages, though relations are unlikely to extend beyond low-level confidence-building measures.

India Cautiously Opens up to Chinese Investment

Djibouti

Damage at the Azadi Sport Complex in the Iranian capital of Tehran on April 3.

The Weekly Rundown: The Iran War Continues, Taiwan's KMT Restarts China Talks

Iraqi women light candles in memory of the victims of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and Lebanon during a rally in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on April 2, 2026.

Violent spillover from the Iran war will further complicate Iraq's government formation process, while disrupted oil exports will heavily strain Baghdad's finances and raise the risk of unrest.

Iraq Is Caught in the Crossfire of Another Destabilizing War

Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Shah is sworn in as Nepal's new prime minister in Kathmandu on March 27, 2026.

Prolonged global supply chain disruptions and threats to foreign remittances linked to the war will constrain the new administration's ability to deliver on its economic promises.


New Nepalese Government's Agenda Threatened by Iran War Fallout

Saudi Arabia will extend an additional $3 billion in support to Pakistan to assist with its upcoming debt repayment to the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported on April 14.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia To Extend $3B in Financial Support to Pakistan

The United States and Iran reportedly agreed to an "in principle agreement" to extend their two-week ceasefire, which is set to expire on April 22, to provide additional time for diplomacy, AP reported on April 15, citing unnamed regional officials.

U.S., Iran: Regional Negotiators Work To Extend U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Spain

Italy

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she would not renew a 2006 defense agreement with Israel that pooled military research and helped cover expenses related to military equipment exchanges, Defense News reported on April 14.

Italy, Israel: Italy Suspends Defense Agreement With Israel

Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States began U.S.-mediated direct negotiations in Washington, D.C., on April 14, marking the first direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials since 1993, AP reported the same day.

Israel, Lebanon: Israel and Lebanon Begin Direct Negotiations in Washington

Botswana

South Africa

Germany

Environment, Science & Technology

Germany agreed to forward a 200 million euro ($234 million) concessional loan to South Africa to support investments in the country's power grid and renewable energies, as well as expand bilateral cooperation on mineral beneficiation in the country, Reuters reported on April 13.

Southern Africa: Germany, Oman Expand Critical Mineral, Energy Cooperation With South Africa, Botswana

Pakistani and Iranian sources said a renewed push for a second round of U.S.-Iran talks was underway, aiming to schedule negotiations later the week of April 13 or early the week of April 20, Reuters reported on April 14.

U.S., Iran: Negotiators Push for Next Round of Talks as Handful of Ships Leave Gulf

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will reportedly visit Saudi Arabia within the next 48 hours following an invitation from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Geo News reported on April 13. 

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Sharif To Visit Saudi Arabia Following Conclusion of U.S.-Iran Talks

Cyber

Iran-linked hacking group Handala Hack claimed on April 12 to have destroyed 6 petabytes of data and stolen 149 terabytes of sensitive information in a cyberattack against three Dubai government organizations, SecurityWeek reported on April 13.

Iran, UAE: Handala Hack Claims Theft and Destruction of Data in Dubai Cyberattack

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia To Extend $3B in Financial Support to Pakistan

U.S., Iran: Regional Negotiators Work To Extend U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Italy, Israel: Italy Suspends Defense Agreement With Israel

Israel, Lebanon: Israel and Lebanon Begin Direct Negotiations in Washington

Southern Africa: Germany, Oman Expand Critical Mineral, Energy Cooperation With South Africa, Botswana

U.S., Iran: Negotiators Push for Next Round of Talks as Handful of Ships Leave Gulf

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Sharif To Visit Saudi Arabia Following Conclusion of U.S.-Iran Talks

Iran, UAE: Handala Hack Claims Theft and Destruction of Data in Dubai Cyberattack

Forecasts

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