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A huge banner of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei who was killed in joint operation named Epic Fury by Israel and the U.S. in his residence is posted on a building facade in Revolution Square on March 4, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images

Khamenei’s Killing and the Perilous Death of the Assassination Ban

Khamenei’s killing ends the U.S. ban on assassination and signals a shift as nations may forsake diplomacy, embracing force to eliminate foreign adversaries.
A Ukrainian man wearing fatigues carries a drone through what looks like a hallway in a residential apartment.

Iranian Officials’ Legal Liability in Russia’s Drone War on Ukraine

A forthcoming report argues that liability extends to Iranian officials involved in providing industrial, financial, and logistical support for Russia's atrocities in Ukraine.
Protesters hold Iranian pre-Islamic revolution of 1979 flags in front of the United Nations office in Geneva​, Switzerland on February 17, 2026.

What the Current Crises Facing Iran Mean for Human Rights and Rules on the Use of Force

The human rights crisis in Iran reveals the limits of a legal system designed to restrain force even when restraint carries profound human costs.
A man holds a Syrian flag across the street from the White House. An American flag waves in the background.

Caesar Act Repeal and the Syria Sanctions Removal Report Card

Where things stand along the path of Syria sanctions removal and what restrictions remain to inhibit burgeoning investment and development in post-Assad Syria.
The band members march toward the left of the photo, wearing red jackets and black pants with red stripes and playing instruments including a tuba, as a red, yellow and green Ethiopian flag flies in the background in front of the dam, with water flowing down its slope.

The Brewing Egypt-Ethiopia Nile River Conflict is Ripe for “Solving”

An agreement to resolve the dam conflict has long been drafted. Trump could be the "closer" engaging Presidents Abiy and el-Sisi for a deal.
A picture taken from a distance shows the damaged building (L) in the compound housing members of Palestinian militant group Hamas's political bureau

Israel’s Strike on Doha: A Crisis for U.S. Credibility?

Israel's Doha strikes could heighten regional instability, intensify Arab unity against Israel, and chill normalization efforts.
US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Camille Shea (R) speaks during a Security Council Meeting as Iranian UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani (L) looks on.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nominee Waltz Faces Senate Vote as the Global Body Reels

If confirmed, Michael Waltz will send crucial signals about the Trump administration's plans, beyond big budget cuts, for the world body.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (L), accompanied by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine (R), speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. U.S. President Donald Trump gave an address to the nation last night after three Iranian nuclear facilities were struck by the U.S. military. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

President Trump’s Decision to Bomb Iran: From Bad to Worse

Whether newly announced ceasefire actually leads to end hostilities will not change the new reality: a comprehensive agreement is less likely now than before the bombing
plume of heavy smoke and fire rise from an oil refinery in southern Tehran

Israel and Iran: A War with No Off-Ramp

The constellation of forces in Israel, the United States, and beyond complicates efforts to find an off-ramp to the war.
Iranian protesters march in Tehran's Revolution Square

The Strategic Stakes after Israel’s Opening Strikes on Iran

Strategic implications of Israel’s strikes on Iran and key questions policymakers should ask to navigate what comes next.
A Huthi fighter checks the damage following overnight strikes

A Strategic Pivot is Needed for Long-term Peace and Stability in Yemen

To establish peace in the Red Sea region, the Trump administration must invest in Yemeni pro-democracy groups & move away from military force.
US President Donald Trump (L), accompanied by his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (C) prepares to board Airforce One in Abu Dhabi

What Comes Next After Trump’s AI Deals in the Gulf

Recent major U.S. chip export deals with the Gulf mark the emergence of a new powerhouse in the AI race.
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