The Atlantic Council Middle East Programs

10/29/2025

🔴 TOMORROW | ⏰ 9:00 AM ET/5:00 PM AST |📍Virtual

Iraq’s 2025 elections come amid political fragmentation and voter fatigue.

Join the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative for a panel with Maysoon Al-Damluji, Omar Al Nidawi, Sajad Jiyad, and Yerevan Saeed, moderated by Hayder Al-Shakeri, on what these elections mean for Iraq’s democracy and US policy.

🔗 Register: ⬇️

A discussion examining Iraq’s upcoming elections, its likely outcomes, and its possible impact on Iraqi policy.

10/27/2025

🗓️ Oct 30 | ⏰ 9:00 AM ET/5:00 PM AST |📍Virtual

What do Iraq’s 2025 elections mean for the country’s future and regional stability?

Join the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative for a discussion with Maysoon Al-Damluji, Omar Al Nidawi, Sajad Jiyad, and Yerevan Saeed, moderated by Hayder Al-Shakeri, on how shifting alliances, voter sentiment, and external influences will shape Iraq’s next government.

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A discussion examining Iraq’s upcoming elections, its likely outcomes, and its possible impact on Iraqi policy.

10/23/2025

“The problem is that there is no spirit of constitutionalism, and there is a strong and concerted effort on the part of Iraqi politicians to erode a lot of the things that we think of as the tenets of this document,” explains Marsin Alshamary.

Watch more: ➡️ https://bit.ly/4ng0jnR

10/23/2025

🗓️ Oct 30 | ⏰ 9:00 AM ET/5:00 PM AST |📍Virtual

What do Iraq’s 2025 elections reveal about the country’s political landscape?

Join the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative for a discussion featuring Maysoon Al-Damluji, Omar Al Nidawi, Sajad Jiyad, and Yerevan Saeed, moderated by Hayder Al-Shakeri, on how electoral outcomes will shape Iraq’s governance and regional role.

🔗 Register: ⬇️

A discussion examining Iraq’s upcoming elections, its likely outcomes, and its possible impact on Iraqi policy.

10/23/2025

How is the constitutional framework influencing the evolution of political coalitions, government formation and governance in Baghdad, asks Safwan Al-Amin.

"The main challenge of the Iraqi constitution that it is static and it's very difficult to change,” explains Abbas Anbori.

"The main problem doesn't come from the Constitution. It comes from the electoral system in Iraq, which has been changed a few few times,” he adds.

Watch more: ➡️ https://bit.ly/4ng0jnR

10/23/2025

Twenty years after its adoption, has Iraq’s constitution been successful, asks Safwan Al-Amin.

"In some respects, it has been successful, even very successful and in others, it's been a serious failure. It's it's a mixed picture in that regard,” explains Zaid Al-Ali.

Watch more: ➡️ https://bit.ly/4ng0jnR

10/22/2025

🔴 TOMORROW | ⏰ 10:30 AM ET | 📍 Online

Don’t miss the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative event on the 20th anniversary of Iraq’s constitution.

🎙️ Speakers: Zaid Al-Ali, Marsin Alshamary, Abbas Anbori, Hemin Hawrami
🧭 Moderator: Safwan Al-Amin

The conversation will explore the constitution’s legacy as both a foundation for democracy and a source of political paralysis, and whether reforms are needed for Iraq’s future.

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A discussion examining the legacy of the Iraqi constitution and its impact on Iraq’s democracy twenty years after its ratification.

10/20/2025

🗓️ October 23 | ⏰ 10:30 AM ET | 📍 Online

Religion and state. Baghdad–KRG relations. Federalism. These are some of the key debates embedded in Iraq’s constitution as it reaches its 20-year mark.

Join the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative for a discussion with Zaid Al-Ali, Marsin Alshamary, Abbas Anbori, and Hemin Hawrami, moderated by Safwan Al-Amin.
The panel will explore how these constitutional questions have shaped Iraq’s governance and whether the framework has enabled or hindered democratic development.

🔗 Register now: ⬇️

A discussion examining the legacy of the Iraqi constitution and its impact on Iraq’s democracy twenty years after its ratification.

10/20/2025

🗓️ October 30 | ⏰ 9:00 AM ET/5:00 PM AST |📍Virtual

Join the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative for a timely discussion on Iraq’s 2025 elections and what they could mean for the country’s political trajectory, governance, and US interests.

🎙️ Featuring Maysoon Al-Damluji, Sajad Jiyad, Yerevan Saeed, and Omar Al Nidawi, moderated by Hayder Al-Shakeri.

🔗 Register now: ⬇️

A discussion examining Iraq’s upcoming elections, its likely outcomes, and its possible impact on Iraqi policy.

10/20/2025

Could the cease-fire in Gaza bring about the end of Houthi attacks on maritime shipping in the Red Sea and their own war with Israel?

“For the Houthis, the brief hiatus on attacks against Israel and Red Sea shipping is temporary. Their standdown is not a concession—it is an unpreferable reality imposed on them. They are likely awaiting the outcome of cumulative pressures upon Iran, and moves from Israel, before they determine their next move. While the precise direction is unclear, current readings are that the Red Sea will remain a point of contention as the Houthis and Iran seek to counter pressure from Israel, the United States, and Europe, while keeping regional tensions below the level of open conflict,” explains Osamah Al Rawhani.

Read his take analyzing pathways the Houthis might consider in a bid to maintain their strategic gains.

Will the Houthis cease their regional hostilities? The brief response is yes—but likely, only for the time being.

10/19/2025

🔴 WATCH | The World Bank's Global Director of Education Luis Benveniste joins Nour Dabboussi on the sidelines of hashtag to discuss his take on education reforms, the future of the labor market, and the role of the private sector.

Watch his take below ⬇️

10/19/2025

🚨 On Monday, in the first part of a cease-fire deal brokered by the White House, Hamas released all twenty living hostages that it still held following its October 7, 2023, terrorist attack, while Israel released nearly two thousand Palestinian prisoners, paused strikes, and began to pull back Israeli forces within Gaza.

What should this next phase include? Who or what might play the spoiler in further peace-building efforts? And what moves should we expect from the different sides and stakeholders?

Our experts Danny Citrinowicz , Daniel E. Mouton, Arwa Damon, Alan Pino, Shalom Lipner, Daniel B. Shapiro, Jonathan Panikoff, Ali Bakir, Rich Outzen, Nicholas Hopton, Nicholas Blanford, Osamah Al Rawhani, Victoria J. Taylor , Thomas S. Warrick, Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, Celeste Kmiotek, William F. Wechsler, R. Clarke Cooper, and Jennifer Gavito answer twenty pressing questions about the cease-fire deal below ⬇️

What will follow part one of the cease-fire deal brokered by the Trump administration? Atlantic Council experts share their answers.