A Path of Cooperation and Opportunity Between the U.S. and the UAE
The impressive string of world leaders visiting the UAE following the recent death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, made clear that the UAE plays an […] More
Norm Roule
Putting Europe’s Energy Problem into Perspective
Foreign Ministers from Ireland, Lithuania and the Netherlands say the European Union is drafting proposals for an oil embargo on Russia as news of civilian […] More
JCPOA: If We Get to Agreement, what will it Mean?
After recent hurdles in the nearly year-long talks aimed at re-instituting the nuclear agreement with Iran known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), […] More
Winter is Coming: Global Energy Markets and the Impact on National Security
Colder weather is settling in around much of the globe and after a year and a half of managing a global pandemic, energy markets are […] More
The Latest
What Should the U.S. Expect from the ‘New’ Taliban Regime?
As the U.S. works toward getting more 11,000 Americans, diplomats and Afghan allies out of the country, what kind of Taliban should the U.S. expect […] More
Expert Brief: Iran, the Middle East and Strategies around Oil
The Middle East has demanded Washington’s attention on an almost weekly basis since President Biden took office in January. Since then, the White House has […] More
What Iran’s Election Tells Us About Where It’s Headed
Hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi won Iran’s presidential election on Saturday in a move that is expected to bolster the conservative legacy of the country’s supreme […] More
US Approach toward Yemen Needs More Work
Mark D. Wallace is CEO of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Management and Reform. Cipher […] More
How the Middle East Conflict Leads Back to US National Security
In the Biden Administration’s highest-level face-to-face visit, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to the Middle East to seize momentum created by last week’s […] More
An Expert Brief on Economic Security, Investment and Jurisdictional Risk
A rarely discussed but high impact trend that seems to have been amplified by the COVID-19 virus is affecting investment in countries that have traditionally […] More
President Biden’s Middle East: A Briefing with Norman Roule
President Joe Biden’s administration is aiming its Middle East agenda on adhering to campaign promises, examining current policies and undoing some that were enacted under […] More
A Path to Reset Iran Policy
Norman T. Roule served for 34-years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing numerous programs relating to Iran and the Middle East. He served as the National […] More
Biden Holds the Cards on Iran, But Will He Play Them?
Gary Grappo is a former U.S. ambassador who held senior positions including Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; U.S. Ambassador […] More
Iran: Assassination and Retaliation
Just over a week ago, Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed by what Iranian authorities describe as a remote-controlled weapon as his car […] More
A Consequential Killing in Tehran
The killing of Al Qaeda’s second in command reportedly at the hands of Israeli operatives working in Tehran signals a significant reduction among al Qaeda’s […] More
The Complicated Middle East facing the Biden Administration
Among his first priorities, President-Elect Joe Biden is announcing a coronavirus task force and is expected to start work on an economic recovery plan this […] More
An Energy Market Check In
ENERGY — 2020 has taken a toll on the world’s energy market, but just how bad is it? Experts say COVID-19, economic shutdowns and a […] More
Ambitions Driving Ankara’s Actions
A considerable amount of quiet, intense diplomacy is underway regarding conflict between Greece and Turkey over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. US Secretary of […] More
A Changing Middle East
Norman T. Roule served for 34-years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing numerous programs relating to Iran and the Middle East. He served as the National […] More