MENA Nuances

8 October 2026: Iran, the Midterms, and the Battle Over Oil Routes

The Big Picture | War Looms as the US Midterms Draw Closer

Oct 8 • MENA NUANCES

10 Ways October 7 Changed the Middle East

Three years after the Hamas attacks and the start of the Gaza war, the Middle East is not simply more violent.

Oct 7 • Ali Mamouri

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5 October 2026: Between War and Diplomacy — The Region Braces for the Next Round

The Big Picture | Between War and Diplomacy

Oct 5 • MENA NUANCES

Sovereignty Day or Another Afghanistan .. What the US Withdrawal Means for Iraq?

Introduction: The Last American Soldiers Leave

Oct 1 • Ali Mamouri

September 2026

Trump Says a ‘Big Decision’ on Iran Is Coming. What Are His Options?

Nearly seven months into the war with Iran, Donald Trump used his address to the UN General Assembly to say that he now faces a “big decision.” He…

Sep 24 • Ali Mamouri

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August 2026

From Gaza to Ceuta: Migration, Islamophobia, and Information Warfare

From a Local Crisis to a Global Narrative

Aug 1 • Ali Mamouri

July 2026

Continuity, Not Change: What Khalil al-Hayya's Election Says About Hamas's Future

Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its Political Bureau, nearly twenty months after the assassination of Yahya Sinwar.

Jul 30 • Ali Mamouri

How Tehran Sees the War: Understanding Iran's Strategic Logic

In my previous article, I explored five possible strategic objectives Washington may be pursuing in the renewed war against Iran.

Jul 20 • Ali Mamouri

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The New US Campaign Against Iran: What Is Washington Trying to Achieve? Five Strategic Scenarios

Just weeks after the signing of the memorandum of understanding, disagreements began to surface and the framework started to unravel piece by piece—from…

Jul 18 • Ali Mamouri

June 2026

Iraq's Latest Anti-Corruption Campaign: Why This Time May Not Be Different

Following my departure from the Iraqi government, where I served as an adviser to former Prime Minister, I wrote an article titled ”State of Pirates…

Jun 30 • Ali Mamouri

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When JD Vance Lands in Tehran: Why the US and Iran May Be Closer to Peace Than Ever Before

Few images in international politics seem less plausible than Air Force Two landing in Tehran carrying an American vice president.

Jun 24 • Ali Mamouri

Did Obama Get Iran Right?

The Reality Trump Couldn’t Change

Jun 13 • Ali Mamouri