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handle is hein.crs/govekjv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service infkrring the iegislative debdie sinco 1914 The Middle East, North Africa, and Afghanistan: Selected Issues for the 118th Congress U.S. interests and policy in an evolving Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are changing, as U.S. national security strategy prioritizes competition with China and Russia and as the United States has withdrawn some military forces from long-standing regional conflicts. The 118th Congress may review U.S. approaches to the MENA region as Members consider proposals to fund and authorize U.S. programs and exercise oversight of foreign policy, defense, intelligence, and assistance initiatives. The United States has devoted significant resources, including the deployment of military forces, to combat terrorist threats and stabilize parts of the MENA region since 2001. The Biden Administration has said it seeks to build a cooperative network of MENA partner countries and enable them to meet shared challenges. According to the 2022 National Security Strategy, the Administration intends to bolster the resilience and capabilities of MENA partners and believes that a more integrated Middle East that empowers our allies and partners will advance regional peace and prosperity, while reducing the resource demands the region makes on the United States over the long term. The Administration also has stated, the United States will not allow foreign or regional powers to jeopardize freedom of navigation through the Middle East's waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al Mandab, nor tolerate efforts by any country to dominate another - or the region - through military buildups, incursions, or threats. The 118th Congress will likely face both long-standing and emergent issues in the MENA region. These include the multilateral impasse with the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) over its nuclear program; concern over Iran's support for armed groups across the MENA region; unrest in Iran; leadership transitions in Israel and perhaps among Palestinian groups; and the potential for renewed Taliban rule in Afghanistan to allow global terrorists to reconstitute their capabilities. Conflict, tension, and crises in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Lebanon pose enduring risks to the region's stability and generate demands on U.S. foreign aid, diplomacy, and military resources. Tunisia, the one Arab Spring country that established a multiparty democracy, is becoming increasingly authoritarian amid an economic crisis. Egypt also faces economic pressure and has sought support from Arab Gulf states. Across the region, economic recovery and growth prospects are uneven, affecting MENA countries' ability to grapple with challenges posed by climate change, demographic pressures, and new technologies. Iran Since the 1979 establishment of the Islamic Republic, successive U.S. Administrations and Congresses have Updated January 27, 2023 identified Iran as a multifaceted threat to the United States. Iran seeks to erode U.S. influence in the Middle East while projecting power in neighboring states through a variety of means, including the development of advanced missile and unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities; support for a number of partner governments and armed groups; closer ties with Russia and China; and an advancing nuclear program. In response, Congress has authorized sanctions and required legislative review of agreements over Iran's nuclear program. The 2015 nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) imposed limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from most U.S. and international sanctions. The Trump Administration withdrew the United States from the accord in 2018. The Biden Administration sought to revive the accord, but those indirect talks stalled. Some Members have called on the Biden Administration to formally terminate JCPOA negotiations. The Biden Administration reportedly is resistant to ending those negotiations, but U.S. officials have emphasized they are not actively pursuing them. Figure I. Middle East. North Africa. and Afghanistan Source: CRS, using State Department and ESRI data. The September 2022 death of a young woman named Mahsa Amini sparked protests that have challenged the Iranian government's authority. In response, the Biden Administration has expressed public support for the protesters; sanctioned dozens of individuals and entities involved in the violent crackdown against the demonstrators; and sought to facilitate Iranians' internet access. Members of Congress are likely to oversee and seek to shape U.S. policy responses to the protests. U.S. policymakers also have expressed concern about Iran's provision of weaponry to Russia for use in Ukraine. Israel and the Palestinians Israel's security and its efforts to peacefully resolve disputes with the Palestinians have been decades-long U.S. policy priorities. Congress has required the executive branch to certify that arms sales to MENA countries will

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