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Articles by Anni Coonan
Analysts' Brief: COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye
On November 9, representatives will gather in Antalya, Türkiye, for the 31st Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The annual meeting is an opportunity for parties (of which there are 198) to assess progress on climate benchmarks, negotiate new commitments and initiatives, and set new goals.
Iraq’s High Risk, High Reward Effort To Control Iran-Backed Militias
September 30th was a momentous day for the US-Iraq bilateral relationship: the US withdrew the last of its troops, and the Iraqi government had pledged to bring Iran-backed elements of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) under full state control, at long last, by the same date.
Analysts' Brief: Prospects For US-Iran Negotiations
On Saturday, President Trump publicly rejected Iran’s most recent peace proposal, delivered via shuttle diplomacy by Qatar during the UN General Assembly in New York. The apparent failure of this most recent negotiating round raises old and new questions about the prospects for a durable resolution to the conflict, the trajectory of the energy market and regional dynamics – including the perspective of Pakistan, the mediator of the June MOU.
The Analysts' Brief: The Upcoming Trump-Xi Meeting
With less than a week before President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in Washington for talks with President Donald Trump, expectations for a major breakthrough remain low. The September 24 summit comes as the November 10 expiration approaches for the one-year trade truce that eased tariffs and paused several trade and export-control measures. Meanwhile, tensions over AI and the ongoing war in Iran add new points of friction to an already fragile relationship.
How Iran's Wartime Economy Works, And How Long It Can Last
In recent weeks, the US has escalated economic pressure on Iran in a bid to exacerbate Tehran’s financial woes and precipitate a return to the negotiating table without escalating militarily. While the pressure is having an effect, Iran’s war-torn economy, hardened by years of economic isolation, remains resilient. What is the state of Iran’s economy? And how exactly is it weathering escalating economic pressure without fear of imminent collapse?
The US Sale Of F-35s To Saudi Arabia: How, Why And What Next
On September 17th, the US announced the pending sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has long sought the purchase, but it has proven controversial for critics in Washington concerned with Saudi Arabia’s ties to China and consequences for Israel’s qualitative military edge. Washington’s agreement to sell Riyadh the world’s most advanced multirole stealth fighter would make it the first Middle Eastern country other than Israel to operate the aircraft.
The Analysts' Brief: The Upcoming Trump-Xi Meeting
With less than a week before President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in Washington for talks with President Donald Trump, expectations for a major breakthrough remain low. The September 24 summit comes as the November 10 expiration approaches for the one-year trade truce that eased tariffs and paused several trade and export-control measures. Meanwhile, tensions over AI and the ongoing war in Iran add new points of friction to an already fragile relationship.
How Iran’s Wartime Economy Works, and How Long it Can Last
In recent weeks, the US has escalated economic pressure on Iran in a bid to exacerbate Tehran’s financial woes and precipitate a return to the negotiating table without escalating militarily. While the pressure is having an effect, Iran’s war-torn economy, hardened by years of economic isolation, remains resilient. What is the state of Iran’s economy? And how exactly is it weathering escalating economic pressure without fear of imminent collapse?
The US-Saudi Nuclear Deal: Ramifications For Global Proliferation And The Fracturing Regional Strategic Landscape
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: with Senior Company Executives and HR with readers working within the Retail & Leisure industries The civil nuclear cooperation agreement signed between the US and Saudi Arabia last month was a historic and long-anticipated step for the bilateral partnership. For Saudi Arabia, the deal is a move to cement long-term US partnership amid anxieties around American retrenchment, and to free up more oil for export.
The US-Saudi Nuclear Deal: Ramifications for Global Proliferation and the Fracturing Regional Strategic Landscape
The civil nuclear cooperation agreement signed between the US and Saudi Arabia last month was a historic and long-anticipated step for the bilateral partnership. For Saudi Arabia, the deal is a move to cement long-term US partnership amid anxieties around American retrenchment, and to free up more oil for export.
The Reality Of UAE-Saudi Tensions: More Aligned Than Not, For Now
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: with Senior Company Executives and HR Steptoe LLP are most popular: with readers working within the Technology industries Tensions between two of the Arab Gulf’s most important power players, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have increasingly broken containment in recent months, highlighting risks for US strategy and international businesses.
Interview With Anni Coonan, Senior Analyst And Stepwise Editor
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: with Senior Company Executives and HR Steptoe LLP are most popular: with readers working within the Technology industries Anni Coonan is a senior analyst with Steptoe’s Global Strategic Engagement Team and Editor-in-Chief of the Stepwise Risk Outlook.
What Could Block The Iran Deal
Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Criminal Law topic(s) with readers working within the Technology and Retail & Leisure industries US-Iran negotiations started off rocky this week in Switzerland. Iranian negotiators ended Sunday talks early over American threats to resume bombing if a deal is not reached. The walkout followed days of Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Iran’s declared closure of the Strait of Hormuz (although ships continued to transit the waterway).
Iran War Threatens Strait of Hormuz Subsea Internet Cables and Gulf AI Boom
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for 40% of the world’s oil and other maritime trade—has rocked the global economy. Below the maritime skirmishes, another crucial chokepoint is at risk: subsea fiber optic cables in the Gulf. Subsea cable networks globally carry an estimated 95% of all international data traffic, and in the Gulf are concentrated in just a few routes through the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Syria Bets On Diplomacy And Pipelines Amid Iran War
Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Criminal Law topic(s) Over the last two months, fallout from the Iran war has roiled every country in the Middle East. Syria, once a hotspot of regional conflict itself, has kept a remarkably low profile. Weathering the economic fallout and low-level airstrikes (for now), Damascus is asserting its neutrality to position itself as a regional safe haven and future East-West energy hub.
Is The Iran War Ready To End?
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: with readers working within the Utilities industries With the war with Iran grinding on as talks stall and allies split, hope is dimming for a quick, favorable end. Over the last several weeks, the US has publicly messaged a shortened timeline of two to three weeks for the end of fighting, citing productive negotiations with Tehran and a series of military victories. Meanwhile, the US and Iran appear far apart in ceasefire negotiations.
Regional Spillover In The Middle East Risks Supply Chain Disruptions And Violence Escalation
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: with readers working within the Utilities industries As the US-Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East enters its third week, further regional spillover and escalation appear more likely than a decisive conclusion in the near term.
In Its Second Week, The US-Israel-Iran War Is Reshaping Global Energy Markets
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: with readers working within the Utilities industries The escalation of hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran into open military conflict has delivered a profound shock to the global energy system. Since the launch of large-scale military operations on February 28, energy markets worldwide have entered a phase of extreme and sustained turbulence.
Israel's West Bank Land Moves: A Push Toward De Facto Annexation
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) with readers working within the Utilities industries The sweeping measures approved by Israel's security cabinet this month represent the most significant administrative restructuring of the occupied West Bank since 1967, paving the way for full Israeli land governance of much of the West Bank—or de facto annexation, according to many observers.
Türkiye's Evolving Regional Role: Navigating Complexity In A Multipolar World
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport topic(s) As 2026 unfolds, Türkiye has solidified its position at the center of the world's most critical geopolitical shifts.
Israel And Egypt Advance A $35 Billion Gas Deal, But Political Obstacles Remain
Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport topic(s) In December, Israel and Egypt formally announced a long-awaited $35 billion natural gas deal that will see Jerusalem export over 130 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas from its Leviathan field to Cairo via pipeline until 2040. Both parties, as well as the US, have high hopes for the agreement—albeit divergent ones.
New Rift Brewing In Arab Gulf: Drivers And Costs Of A Saudi-UAE Break
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport topic(s) In the final days of 2025, shock advances by UAE-backed Yemeni separatists in the country's south provoked a rare public confrontation between the UAE and its longtime strategic partner Saudi Arabia.
The Newly Established Board Of Peace: Will It Work On The Ground?
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport topic(s) On January 22, in Davos, Switzerland, with over a dozen world leaders at his side, President Trump officially launched the Board of Peace.
Prospects For Regime Change, Survival And Stability In Iran
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport and International Law topic(s) The most recent round of popular unrest in Iran has quickly grown to historic size, with protests erupting in every one of Iran's 31 provinces and the estimated death toll for protesters rising into the thousands.
The New Rules Of The Road: Top Global Risks For Businesses In 2026
SJ Steptoe LLP More In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and professional staff across the US, Europe and Asia.
One Year After The Fall Of Assad: Syria's Fragile Transition
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) with readers working within the Retail & Leisure industries Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport topic(s) On December 8, 2025, Syrians marked the first anniversary of the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad. The collapse of a regime that had governed for over fifty years came swiftly as rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept through major cities.
The US' Long Arm Of Influence: US Seeks To Assert Heightened Sway In Foreign Polls
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) with readers working within the Retail & Leisure industries Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport topic(s) In just under a year, US President Trump has taken several steps to revamp the rules of US influence on the global stage, from tariffs to anti-drug policy and, yes, foreign elections.
UN Security Council Endorses Trump's Gaza Peace Deal: Implications For US Policy, Israel, The Palestinians, And Arab States
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) in United States with readers working within the Retail & Leisure industries Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport and Immigration topic(s) Earlier this week, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2803 by a vote of 13-0, with abstentions from China and Russia, endorsing President Trump's "Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict." This historic resolution establishes the...
The War On Narco-Terrorism In Latin America
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) in United States with readers working within the Property industries Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport, Immigration and Accounting and Audit topic(s) President Trump has dramatically reshaped US military policy in Central and South America, escalating US operations there to engage in a newly militarized and internationalized armed conflict against drug cartels, or what seems to...
Implementation Of The Trump Gaza Deal: Challenges And Opportunities
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Government and Public Sector topic(s) in United States with readers working within the Property industries Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport, Accounting and Audit and Immigration topic(s) While the first phase of implementation—hostage return—saw initial success, delays have prompted renewed (but not yet ceasefire-breaking) violence, and future stages promise friction as the parties remain fundamentally misaligned...
The View From The Arab Gulf: Post-Ceasefire Perceptions Of Security, Normalization And Stability
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: with readers working within the Technology and Property industries Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport, Accounting and Audit and Immigration topic(s) This month's Israel-Hamas ceasefire has been met in the Arab Gulf, and elsewhere, with relief and cautious optimism.
Syria-Israel Security Negotiations: Are The Two Countries On The Verge Of An Agreement?
Anni Coonan’s articles from Steptoe LLP are most popular: in United States with readers working within the Environment & Waste Management industries Steptoe LLP are most popular: within Transport, Accounting and Audit and Immigration topic(s) Israel and Syria have been engaged in groundbreaking negotiations over the past months on a security accord that could fundamentally alter the region's strategic landscape.
The UN Security Council Decides On One Final Extension Of UNIFIL's Mandate: Implications For Lebanon And The Region
On August 28, 2025, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2790 (2025), renewing United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's (UNIFIL) mandate for a final time through December 31, 2026, and directing a drawdown and withdrawal over the following year. The resolution breaks with the mission's customary annual renewals and sets a clear exit timeline. The move came amid sustained US-Israeli pressure to terminate the mission, with France brokering the compromise timeline.
Syria's Post-War Economy: Foreign Partners Flood In Despite Risks
Over nine months since the ouster of autocratic President Bashar al-Assad, Syria is still in the early days of a shaky stabilization process.
Ending The War In Gaza: Prospects For An Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal
After nearly a year of devastating conflict, mediators Egypt and Qatar have put forward a new proposal that could potentially end the fighting in Gaza. The plan centers on a 60-day truce, phased hostage-prisoner exchanges, partial Israeli withdrawal, and a surge of humanitarian aid. On August 18, Hamas publicly signaled acceptance of the proposal, while Israel indicated it was studying the reply and weighing next steps.
Global Industry Steps Back From Green Steel Amid Regulatory, Economic Headwinds
Over the last several weeks, major steelmakers have telegraphed a global pullback from the burgeoning "green steel" industry – until the last several months, a promising effort to produce steel that is lower-emitting and, eventually, cheaper. Recent developments include a major German producer declining Berlin's offer of €1.3 billion in subsidies and halting development of new green steel projects, and signals from US producer Cleveland-Cliffs that a planned project would not go forward.
Renewed Houthi Maritime Strikes Highlight Difficulties Eliminating Iran's Regional Proxy Network
In early July, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels resumed maritime strikes on vessels passing through the Red Sea, abandoning a US ceasefire that had held since May. The attacks—and the similar skirmishes that have followed in the intervening weeks—follow a familiar Houthi playbook: impose costs on international shipping to pressure Israel and its Western partners to end the conflict in Gaza.
CRINK: The Strategic Limits Of The New "Axis Of Upheaval"
From the alphabet soup of multi- and mini-laterals increasingly defining the fragmented global power landscape, a relatively new grouping is sparking international concern: CRINK, or China-Russia-Iran-North Korea. The loose grouping – sometimes also called the "axis of upheaval" or the "quartet of chaos" – is underpinned by a desire to push back on the US-backed, Western world order, and has emerged as an economic, diplomatic and, in some cases, military boon for the members.
What's Next For Syria As Sanctions Lift
Syria has entered a new post-Assad era with President Trump's dramatic mid-May announcement that he would order the cessation of US sanctions. The move has opened the door for the US, the UK, and the EU to begin the process of comprehensively lifting their respective Syria sanctions.
Congress Looks To Repeal IRA Provisions, Creating Uncertain Fate For US Green Tech
The future of America's domestic energy landscape is in flux: significant renewable energy-focused elements of President Biden's landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are up for debate on the Hill as the Republican-led Congress finalizes its various budget bills, and President Trump has put efforts to secure American energy security near the top of his domestic agenda.
On Iran, Trump Is Preparing For Both Diplomacy And Confrontation
On April 7, President Donald Trump surprised many by announcing that the "[US is] having direct talks with Iran, which have started and will continue" adding that "if talks will not be successful, Iran will be in great danger." The president made the shock announcement during a press availability in the Oval Office, and with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu—in town for his second face-to-face meeting with Trump in his second term—at his side.
Jonathan C. Drimmer - Partner
Overview Jonathan Drimmer is a partner in Steptoe's Washington, DC office, where he resolves complex cross-border challenges with the benefit of having sat in every chair at the table: senior legal officer for a Global 500 company, federal prosecutor, and seasoned advocate. He is ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global for business and human rights law and is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities in the field.
Israel's Plans For Syria
More than two months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syria's future remains unclear. Israel's occupation of Syria's southwestern demilitarized zone in close proximity to the Golan Heights (which Israel previously left in 1974 and opted to retake in the aftermath of Assad's ouster) may remain a permanent feature in the Middle East landscape for years to come.
The Americas React: Room For Deal-Making Amid Heightened Rhetoric
Earlier this week, President Trump kicked off his first term with a slew of immigration-related executive orders (EOs) and actions focused on limiting illegal immigration, aiming to deliver on a key campaign promise.
Israel In 2025: Perspectives On A Region In Turmoil
At the start of 2025, Israel finds itself in a Middle East in which turmoil is at a historic high - and set to continue. Regional conflicts show little sign of abating, and instability is increasing.
What We're Watching Today: January 10, 2025
Ukraine Defence Contact Group pledges additional military aid to Ukraine The US convened the final meeting of the Biden administration for the Defence Contact Group, with members setting production goals for arms and equipment to be donated to Ukraine. Our Take: The setting of acquisition targets will aid planning, enabling industry to more efficiently scale production to meet planned demand.
What We're Watching Today: January 6, 2025
Russian gas dominance over Europe ends with termination of Ukrainian transit agreement Russian gas exports via pipelines running through Ukraine halted on New Year's Day, marking the end of decades of Moscow's dominance over Europe's energy markets. Our Take: The cutoff of gas via Ukraine has long been anticipated, giving recipient governments plenty of time to make alternative arrangements.
Top Business Risks For 2025
The great differentiator between successful businesses and those falling behind in 2025 will be strong and agile leadership attuned to changing operational environments and associated risks. 2025 promises to continue a trend of rapid change, with the sheer scale of such shifts being the top risk. Geopolitical upheaval, trade wars, climate change, and technological disruptions will impact more individuals, businesses and governments, imposing greater costs for longer duration.
Karl V. Hopkins - Partner
Overview Karl Hopkins is an internationally recognized legal advisor with extensive experience in infrastructure, energy, compliance, and cybersecurity and privacy matters. Karl counsels clients on a variety of matters involving international infrastructure development, arbitration, energy, business and political intelligence, and security and threat analysis.
What We're Watching Today: December 9, 2024
What We're Watching Today is 1,297 words and an 8-minute read. Trump urges urgent ceasefire in Ukraine US President-elect Donald Trump urged an immediate Ukraine-Russia ceasefire and talks to end "the madness," following his first meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy in Paris, as both sides outlined their conditions. Our Take: Trump's call for a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire reflects a significant early effort by the incoming president to influence global diplomacy.
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