United States

Iran

Israel

China

Taiwan

Ukraine

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel that passed through the Senate in a 79-18 vote with allocations to replenish Israel's missile defense systems and augment humanitarian support to Gaza, The New York Times reported on April 24.

U.S.: Washington Approves Aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Expands Sanctions on Iran

Europe

EU foreign and defense ministers will agree to impose new sanctions on Iran following its April 13 attack on Israel during a meeting in Luxembourg on April 22, Politico reported the same day, citing EU diplomats and officials.

EU, Iran: EU Foreign Ministers To Agree on New Sanctions Against Iran

Iraq

Syria

Iranian-backed Iraqi militants fired five rockets at the Kharab al-Jir U.S. military base in Syria from Zummar, Iraq, Reuters reported on April 21.

Iraq, Syria: Iraqi Militias Carry Out First Attacks on U.S. Forces Since Early February

Yemen

The Iranian ship MV Behshad, which the United States suspects is a spy ship gathering intelligence for Yemen's Houthi rebels to target ships in the Red Sea, has sailed back to Iran, NBC News reported on April 18.

Iran, Yemen: Iranian Spy Ship Sails Home, Denying Houthis Strategic Intelligence

A senior official of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, warned that Iran could review its nuclear policy if Israel attacks Iran's nuclear facilities, IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported on April 18. 

Iran, Israel: Iran Warns Israeli Military Strike May Change Tehran's Nuclear Doctrine

Lebanon

Lebanon's militant and political group Hezbollah launched a drone strike reportedly on a community center in northern Israel's Bedouin Aramsha village, injuring at least 18 Israeli soldiers, and Israel launched several airstrikes toward southern Lebanon in response, The Times of Israel reported on April 17.

Lebanon, Israel: Hezbollah Escalates Retaliatory Strikes With Advanced Drones

Energy

The U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote the week of April 15 on a dozen bills sanctioning Iran and its allies for the April 13 attack on Israel, Axios reported on April 14.

Iran, U.S.: House To Vote on Slew of Iran Sanctions Measures

France

Israel is preparing for an Iranian attack on southern or northern Israel over April 12-13, although an Iranian leader reportedly said Tehran had not made a final decision, The Wall Street Journal reported late on April 11, citing people familiar with the matter. 

Iran, Israel: Iranian Attack on Israel Expected on April 12-13

Assessments

Pakistan

A welcoming billboard displaying an image of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (left) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is seen along a street in Karachi, Pakistan, on April 22, 2024. 

Pakistan and Iran's embattled pipeline project, which has faced delays amid funding issues and U.S. sanction concerns, could impede recent efforts to boost bilateral cooperation.

For Pakistan and Iran, a Delayed Pipeline Could Undermine Improved Relations

Ecuador

A banner depicts IRGC missile models aimed at Israel on April 16 in the Iranian capital of Tehran. The ongoing confrontation may be entering a de-escalation phase after the April 19 Israeli counterstrike to Iran's April 13 salvo against Israel.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Iran Conflict, Ecuador's Constitutional Referendum

Snapshots

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Tit-for-tat military exchanges between Iran and its proxies against Israel will likely continue, with a constant risk of escalation.

Israel Launches Measured Attack on Iran, but Escalation Risks Remain

Iran will likely respond to Israel's attack, but the scope and size of Iran's response will depend on the scope of Israel's military actions, which is unclear at this time.

Israel Responds to the Iranian Attack

Jordan

Palestinian Territories

The Jordanian flag. Jordan will remain aligned with the United States and Israel, which will result in a heightened risk of attacks by Iranian proxies and growing risks of radicalization.

Jordan will remain aligned with the United States and Israel, which will result in a heightened risk of attacks by Iranian proxies and growing risks of radicalization.

Jordan's Alignment With Israel Will Put It in Iran's Crosshairs

A billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles pictured April 15, 2024, in Valiasr Square in central Tehran. Iran's attack against Israel and Israel's possible retaliation will increase the likelihood that Tehran will accelerate the development of nuclear weapons.

Iran's attack against Israel and Israel's possible retaliation will increase the likelihood that Tehran will accelerate the development of nuclear weapons.

How Israel's Response to Iran Could Accelerate the Iranian Nuclear Program

Iran's large missile and drone attack will prompt an Israeli retaliation that will focus on reestablishing deterrence and preventing future similar attacks on Israel, but in doing so, Israel risks expanding the conflict, further sinking the region into turmoil and possibly dragging in the United States.

How Israel Might Respond to the Iranian Attack

Brazil

Colombia

Germany

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) April 12 in Dausa, India.

The Weekly Rundown: Indian Elections, Scholz Goes to China

Japan

Philippines

South Korea

Poland

People attend an April 5, 2024, funeral procession for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in an Israeli strike in Syria.

The Weekly Rundown: The Threat of Iranian Retaliation Against Israel, Polish Local Elections

Emergency and security personnel search rubble at the site of an April 1, 2024, strike on the Iranian Consulate in Syria's capital of Damascus. Iran will try to minimize the risk of escalation, but doing so will fail to deter Israel from further attacks on Iranian targets in the region. 

Iran will try to minimize the risk of escalation, but doing so will fail to deter Israel from further attacks on Iranian targets in the region. 

Iran's Response to Israel's Audacious Damascus Strike Will Not Deter Escalation

Niger

Russia

Mohamed Toumba (R), one of the generals who ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, and military junta spokesperson Amadou Abdramane (L) look on in Niamey, Niger, on Sept. 4, 2023. 

As U.S. troops likely prepare to leave Niger, alternative partners ready themselves to fill the void.

What's Next for Niger After the Termination of Defense Cooperation With the U.S.?

A man and a child walk past electoral campaign posters in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 22, 2024, ahead of next month's elections.

The Weekly Rundown: Elections in Iran, a Potential New Government in Pakistan

Iran sits at the crossroads of the Islamic world. Linking the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central and South Asia, Iran has struggled to balance the benefits and risks of its geographic position.    Iran's core is located in the western Zagros mountain range. From this secure geography, the beginnings of the Persian Empire spread throughout Iran's mountainous topography securing the Alborz, the southern Zagros and much of the Iranian plateau.    Iran's primary geographic challenge has been to secure itself from the many external threats on its borders. Arabs, Mongols and Turks all conquered ancient Persia at various times, prompting Persia to expand its territorial control whenever possible to establish a buffer to protect its core.    At its height, the Persian Empire stretched from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Hindu Kush mountains, bridging modern-day Europe and Asia. Echoes of this former empire can be seen even today, with Iran's support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, the al Assad regime in Damascus and the Shiite-led government in Iraq.    Iran has also struggled to unite and control the various language and ethnic groups located within its core territories, a process impeded by the country's difficult terrain. Modern-day Tehran is aided by its large hydrocarbon reserves; Iran boasts the fourth-largest oil reserves and largest natural gas reserves in the world. The 20th century saw British, Russian and American interests competing not only to control Iran's strategic geographic location, but its significant energy reserves as well.    This modern-day reliance on energy revenues has resulted in Iran's focus on securing the Strait of Hormuz and expanding control over the Persian Gulf to secure its core territories from the threat of outside invasion.

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S.: Washington Approves Aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Expands Sanctions on Iran

EU, Iran: EU Foreign Ministers To Agree on New Sanctions Against Iran

Iraq, Syria: Iraqi Militias Carry Out First Attacks on U.S. Forces Since Early February

Iran, Yemen: Iranian Spy Ship Sails Home, Denying Houthis Strategic Intelligence

Iran, Israel: Iran Warns Israeli Military Strike May Change Tehran's Nuclear Doctrine

Lebanon, Israel: Hezbollah Escalates Retaliatory Strikes With Advanced Drones

Iran, U.S.: House To Vote on Slew of Iran Sanctions Measures

Iran, Israel: Iranian Attack on Israel Expected on April 12-13

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support