Sunday , March 29 2026
  • My New Book

    US Energy Diplomacy in the Caspian Sea Basin: Changing Trends Since2001 - Available on Springer

  • My New Book

    US Energy Diplomacy in the Caspian Sea Basin: Changing Trends Since2001 - Available on Amazon

Recent Articles

Potential U.S. Strike Targets Include Natural Gas Power Plants

A U.S. bomber at RAF Fairford, a base in England used by the American Air Force. Toby Shepheard/Reuters

By Brian Spegele If President Trump follows through on his threat to attack Iranian power assets, the strikes would almost certainly target plants in the country that generate electricity from natural gas. Around 80% of power generation in Iran came from natural gas as of 2023, according to the International …

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What Does Iraq’s Force Majeure Declaration Mean for Energy Markets?

Cargo ships line the horizon in the Strait of Hormuz.Shutterstock

Iraq Has Not Reduced Output Due to Policy Decisions or Quotas—It Has Shut Down Production Because It Cannot Export On March 20, 2026, Iraq’s Oil Ministry declared force majeure on oilfields operated by foreign companies after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz halted tanker traffic and blocked exports. The decision reflected a breakdown in …

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Kharg Island: The oil lifeline that could ignite a global energy shock

This handout image taken by the European Space Agency, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite, shows a view of Iran's Kharg island. [AFP]

If the conflict intensifies and Kharg’s export facilities become targets, the result could be a severe supply disruption that drives oil prices sharply higher and destabilises energy markets worldwide. In most wars, geography quietly shapes the outcome. In the escalating confrontation between Iran, Israel, and the United States, one small …

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Iraq’s Northern Exports Return, but Supply Risks Persist

An oil field in Kirkuk, Iraq.Shutterstock

Disputes Between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region May Limit Demand for Northern Iraqi Crude On March 17, 2026, Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government agreed to resume crude exports through the northern segment of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. By March 18, shipments had commenced, with …

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South Pars Strike Marks Major Step in Persian Gulf Energy Warfare

The crisis has shifted from a logistical bottleneck to a structural supply shock, with far more severe implications for global energy stability On March 18, Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field and the onshore processing hub at Asaluyeh in Bushehr province, marking a major escalation in the conflict begun by the …

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Iran’s Energy Sector Facing Structural Economic Strain

Iran’s hydrocarbon sector, which holds the world’s fourth-largest oil reserves and second-largest natural gas reserves, remains structurally significant to global energy markets. However, it is increasingly constrained by domestic macroeconomic pressures and external trade frictions. As of early 2026, rapid currency depreciation, persistently high inflation, recurring gas shortages, and episodic …

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Why the Iran-Israel War Matters for the World’s Helium Supply

A QatarEnergy headquarters.Shutterstock

Helium Is Vital to Semiconductor Manufacturing, Aerospace Industries, and Medical Infrastructure Such as MRI Scanners An overlooked consequence of the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran is the shock to global helium trade. While headlines have focused on oil price spikes and liquefied natural gas disruptions, helium extracted as a byproduct of …

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