Saudi Arabia and Iran Compete in the Sahel

by Javad Heiran-Nia and Somayeh Khomarbaghi  Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirate are supporting the Sahel Joint Military Force, the latest indication of a competition for influence with Iran in West Africa. The force falls under the rubric of… Continue Reading

Why Iran Is Not a Mideast Hegemon

by Adnan Tabatabai For many observers, Iran emerged as the major winner of Middle East developments in 2017. They saw a “new superpower” in the region now securing military victories “outside its own borders.” Although the dynamic in places like… Continue Reading

Arab Neoconservatives and Peace in the Persian Gulf

by Eldar Mamedov  Recent years have seen a rise of what could be described as Arab neoconservatives: ambitious leaders such as the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed.… Continue Reading

The Islamic State Threat to Hamas

by Theodore Karasik and Giorgio Cafiero At the beginning of January, the offshoot of the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) in the Egyptian Sinai released a 22-minute execution video titled “Community of Abraham.” The victim was an alleged Hamas collaborator.… Continue Reading