https://www.cfr.org Content about Middle East and North Africa from the Council on Foreign Relations. en-us Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:47:28 GMT https://www.cfr.org/articles/kharg-island-irans-oil-lifeline-and-a-tempting-u-s-target https://www.cfr.org/articles/kharg-island-irans-oil-lifeline-and-a-tempting-u-s-target The small island in the Persian Gulf serves as Iran’s primary oil terminal, handling roughly 90 percent of the country’s crude exports. Recently, it has become a high-value target in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:24:09 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/fifa-promised-a-world-cup-economic-boom-but-u-s-stands-may-be-emptier-than-usual https://www.cfr.org/articles/fifa-promised-a-world-cup-economic-boom-but-u-s-stands-may-be-emptier-than-usual Travel bans, visa denials, safety fears, and record-high ticket prices are suppressing World Cup attendance—and threatening both FIFA’s promised $40 billion windfall and a U.S. tourism industry that was already struggling before the opening whistle. Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:00:00 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/irans-trolling-caught-the-u-s-off-guard-heres-how-to-push-back https://www.cfr.org/articles/irans-trolling-caught-the-u-s-off-guard-heres-how-to-push-back Iran’s use of memes and AI-generated content in its social media offensive is nimble, culturally resonant, and revealing a gap in Washington’s defenses. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:49:39 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-u-s-is-co-hosting-the-world-cup-but-much-of-the-world-cant-attend https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-u-s-is-co-hosting-the-world-cup-but-much-of-the-world-cant-attend The Iran war, immigration enforcement, and the Trump administration’s travel bans have raised the stakes of this summer’s tournament. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:23:41 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/event/ai-drones-and-the-war-in-iran https://www.cfr.org/event/ai-drones-and-the-war-in-iran Panelists discuss how artificial intelligence and autonomous drone systems are reshaping the battlefield in conflict, and what these technological developments reveal about the future of warfare and the limits of international law. Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Event Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/conflict-and-cooperation-in-the-red-sea https://www.cfr.org/articles/conflict-and-cooperation-in-the-red-sea Global Perspectives by ISS, GRC, INSS, and Chatham House Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:49:26 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/event/oil-and-energy-markets-the-geoeconomic-ramifications-of-the-iran-war https://www.cfr.org/event/oil-and-energy-markets-the-geoeconomic-ramifications-of-the-iran-war Panelists provide an update on the geoeconomic consequences of the Iran war and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, including disruptions to oil, gas, and other commodity markets, and the longer-term implications for the petrodollar system and the energy transition. This meeting is an update of an earlier CFR panel discussion on The Geoeconomic […] Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Event Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/trump-says-hes-not-watching-the-clock-on-iran-but-voters-are https://www.cfr.org/articles/trump-says-hes-not-watching-the-clock-on-iran-but-voters-are Trump’s sagging poll numbers and the surging support for Democrats suggest that Republicans will likely pay a price for the war in November. Fri, 29 May 2026 18:39:05 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/episode/why-the-us-needs-an-africa-strategy https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/episode/why-the-us-needs-an-africa-strategy We Discuss: Mentioned on the Episode: Michelle Gavin, “The New African Power Map,” cfr.org Michelle Gavin, The Age of Change: How Urban Youth Are Transforming African Politics Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy. Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Podcast Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/qatars-deepening-persecution-of-the-bahai https://www.cfr.org/articles/qatars-deepening-persecution-of-the-bahai The history of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been one of unending religious bigotry and harsh discrimination against Iran’s Baha’i population. Today, Iran has been joined by the State of Qatar in this illegal and immoral repression of the small and peaceful Baha’i community in Qatar. Right now, in March, April, and May 2026, […] Fri, 22 May 2026 13:03:08 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/event/state-and-local-officials-webinar-iran-conflict-and-economic-aftershocks https://www.cfr.org/event/state-and-local-officials-webinar-iran-conflict-and-economic-aftershocks Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at CFR, provides an update on the Iran war, including the latest developments on the ground, regional dynamics shaping the trajectory of the war, and implications for U.S. foreign policy. Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the energy, climate justice, and […] Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Event Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/lebanon-how-israel-hezbollah-and-regional-powers-are-shaping-its-future https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/lebanon-how-israel-hezbollah-and-regional-powers-are-shaping-its-future Lebanon has had a more open political system than many other Middle East countries, but it has long suffered dysfunction at the hands of corruption and mismanagement, sectarian elites, and the force of non-state actors and their external patrons. Wed, 13 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Backgrounder Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/what-the-iran-war-taught-china-about-fighting-the-united-states https://www.cfr.org/articles/what-the-iran-war-taught-china-about-fighting-the-united-states Iran could not defeat the United States militarily, but it never needed to—and China is taking note. By choking the Strait of Hormuz, spiking energy markets, and running down the clock, Tehran offered Beijing a case study in how to impose costs without seeking victory. Tue, 12 May 2026 17:34:12 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-iran-wars-forgotten-front-global-food-insecurity-and-the-limits-of-u-s-aid https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-iran-wars-forgotten-front-global-food-insecurity-and-the-limits-of-u-s-aid The Trump administration’s Operation Epic Fury has fueled a global hunger crisis affecting millions of people. Meanwhile, the State Department is sitting on $5.4 billion in unspent humanitarian funds. The rainy day it was saving them for has arrived. Tue, 12 May 2026 14:44:00 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/iran-war-costs-reverberate-domestically https://www.cfr.org/articles/iran-war-costs-reverberate-domestically Welcome to the Daily News Brief, CFR’s flagship morning newsletter summarizing the top global news and analysis of the day.  Top of the Agenda Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran was on “life support” yesterday—suggesting a potential return to fighting—while his administration announced plans to address the war’s costs for U.S households. Trump said he would support […] Tue, 12 May 2026 14:22:18 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/trump-rejects-latest-iranian-truce-proposal https://www.cfr.org/articles/trump-rejects-latest-iranian-truce-proposal Welcome to the Daily News Brief, CFR’s flagship morning newsletter summarizing the top global news and analysis of the day.  Top of the Agenda Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal yesterday as multiple Gulf countries reported incoming drone attacks. Even as the main parties have not returned to full-fledged war in the Persian Gulf, Israeli strikes […] Mon, 11 May 2026 14:30:36 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/israel-strikes-beirut-for-the-first-time-since-ceasefire-announcement https://www.cfr.org/articles/israel-strikes-beirut-for-the-first-time-since-ceasefire-announcement Welcome to the Daily News Brief, CFR’s flagship morning newsletter summarizing the top global news and analysis of the day.  Top of the Agenda Israel bombed Beirut for the first time yesterday since it agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon last month. The attack on the city’s suburbs underscored how fighting in Lebanon could pose an […] Thu, 07 May 2026 14:27:48 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/better-than-nothing-deals-three-nuclear-security-lessons-from-the-iran-war https://www.cfr.org/articles/better-than-nothing-deals-three-nuclear-security-lessons-from-the-iran-war Diplomats have gathered in New York to review the future of the global nonproliferation regime, while Washington and Tehran develop terms for a potential future meeting in Islamabad. The Iran war has surfaced three initial nuclear security lessons that should shape the deals negotiators aim to reach. Wed, 06 May 2026 20:25:12 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/trump-pauses-hormuz-shipping-mission https://www.cfr.org/articles/trump-pauses-hormuz-shipping-mission Welcome to the Daily News Brief, CFR’s flagship morning newsletter summarizing the top global news and analysis of the day.  Top of the Agenda President Donald Trump announced yesterday that the United States had paused efforts to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz while negotiations with Iran move forward. Pausing the mission announced just this […] Wed, 06 May 2026 14:25:10 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/how-aid-to-gaza-compares-across-arab-countries https://www.cfr.org/articles/how-aid-to-gaza-compares-across-arab-countries Throughout the Israel-Hamas war, Middle Eastern countries have provided significant aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. Most have a geopolitical or economic interest in doing so. Wed, 06 May 2026 13:18:17 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/event/europe-and-the-war-in-iran https://www.cfr.org/event/europe-and-the-war-in-iran Panelists discuss European responses to the war in Iran, efforts in conflict resolution, and the implications for the transatlantic relationship, EU cohesion, and Europe’s long-term strategic direction. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Event Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/trumps-project-freedom-isnt-going-to-open-the-strait-of-hormuz https://www.cfr.org/articles/trumps-project-freedom-isnt-going-to-open-the-strait-of-hormuz Trump has tried bombings, a blockade, and now a vaguely defined escort operation—and Iran still controls the Strait of Hormuz. Only diplomacy can lead to a true resolution. Mon, 04 May 2026 18:49:44 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/event/the-situation-on-the-ground-and-path-to-peace-in-lebanon https://www.cfr.org/event/the-situation-on-the-ground-and-path-to-peace-in-lebanon Panelists assess the evolving situation on the ground in Lebanon, the role of the United States, and the opportunities as well as challenges in the ongoing negotiations.  EWERS: Thank you. And welcome to today’s Council on Foreign Relations virtual meeting to discuss developments in Lebanon. My name is Elisa Ewers, and I am the senior […] Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Event Council on Foreign Relations https://www.cfr.org/articles/u-s-announces-mission-to-support-strait-of-hormuz-shipping https://www.cfr.org/articles/u-s-announces-mission-to-support-strait-of-hormuz-shipping Welcome to the Daily News Brief, CFR’s flagship morning newsletter summarizing the top global news and analysis of the day.  Top of the Agenda U.S. President Trump announced an effort yesterday to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz while indirect diplomacy between the United States and Iran continues. Trump wrote on social media that […] Mon, 04 May 2026 15:41:18 GMT Article Council on Foreign Relations