MbS Tries to Restart the Lebanese War

by Paul R. Pillar The record of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) as de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia has included a trail of regional destabilization. Foremost on this record has been an air war in Yemen that has… Continue Reading

The Effects of U.S. Sanctions on Iran’s Natural Gas Projects

by Omid Shokri Kalehsar Iran holds the second largest natural gas reserves in the world. Despite this advantage, the country controls less than one percent of the world’s natural gas market. Nevertheless, Iran is the third largest gas producer and,… Continue Reading

Turkey vs. Saudi Arabia: Will the U.S. Have to Pick a Side?

by Derek Davison In the mid-twentieth century, U.S. Middle East policy rested primarily on its alliances with three major regional players: Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. The alliance with Iran was, of course, broken in the wake of the 1979… Continue Reading

U.S. Economic Warfare and Iran’s Politics of Muddling Through

by Daniel Brumberg It is too early to gauge the overall economic consequences for Iran of the Trump administration’ re-imposition of oil-related sanctions. Their full impact will partly depend on the ability of the European Union (EU), China, Russia, India,… Continue Reading

Disarmament: The Forgotten Premises of Non-Proliferation

by Seyed Hossein Mousavian  In an interview with the daily Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced a German-led initiative on global disarmament, warning that technologically advanced weapons can soon transform science fiction into “deadly reality.” This announcement… Continue Reading