Energy Strategy & Foreign Policy Energy Strategy & Foreign Policy

A reported US strike on a railway bridge in northern Iran has drawn attention to a lesser-known front in the widening conflict: the battle over the transport corridors linking Iran to Central Asia, Russia and China. Iranian state media and the IRGC said cruise missiles attributed to US forces struck …

The 2026 NATO Summit opens today, 7th July, in Ankara, at a critical moment for the Alliance as Russia’s war in Ukraine, pressure on European defense systems, and the U.S. strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific intensify debates over transatlantic burden-sharing. The emerging “NATO 3.0” framework would shift greater responsibility for conventional defense, …

China’s rapid robotization drive is reshaping its energy sector, from solar panel manufacturing and wind turbine assembly to oil and gas operations and power grid management. As the world’s largest installer and producer of industrial robots, China installed roughly 295,000 new units in 2024, more than the rest of the world combined, …

Tehran Cannot Legally Redefine Freedom of Navigation Through International WatersIran proposes collecting tolls or fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to generate up to $40 billion annually. According to discussions among Iran, Oman, and other regional players, Tehran has suggested charging for “security, safety, and environmental services.” The Iranian …

The United States’ new Iran sanctions waiver could do more than boost Iranian oil exports. It may also help shift Iranian energy trade from shadow networks back toward conventional global markets. On June 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License …

Summer nears, yet Iran’s power troubles run deeper than just hot days. Blackouts loom not simply due to weather but because neglect has weakened the grid over years. Outdated plants struggle now where new investment was ignored before. Fuel runs low at times, worsened when rivers shrink beneath long dry spells. People use energy …

Energy experts estimate output to rebound within weeks, but it may take months to rebuild shipping confidence and repair damaged energy assets.New Delhi: The interim US-Iran agreement has paved the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but energy market experts caution that oil production and exports from major …

Global energy security depends not only on whether ships can pass through Hormuz, but whether they can do so freely, predictably, and without paying tribute disguised as environmental stewardship The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, with about 20 million barrels of oil passing …

The Company Carries Influence Since It Would Bring a U.S. Major Into a Sector That Washington Has Viewed as Off-Limits ConocoPhillips’s reported plan to sign a contract with Syria’s transitional government would be a significant step in Syria’s return to international energy markets. If finalized, this deal would make ConocoPhillips the …

A Revived Line Would Connect Turkish Industry to Arab Markets, Boost North-South Trade, and Complement Other Projects Turkey is working to modernize and extend the historic Hejaz Railway as it seeks to transform this neglected Ottoman-era line into a tool for infrastructure diplomacy. Built in the early 20th century to …