Energy Strategy & Foreign Policy

The failure to resolve the problems in the Crescent contract, and the dissatisfaction on the Emirati side, show that the importance of energy diplomacy is not yet understood by the officials of the Ministry of Oil and the Iranian government. Exporting natural gas to its neighboring countries has been a top priority …

Considering the lack of interdependence in Iran-China relations, if a nuclear agreement between Iran and the US is reached, China will continue its relations with Iran in line with its national interests in increasing cooperation in the fields of the economy and energy. Reducing Iran’s role in the energy market …

Utilizing energy exports as a political tool in foreign policy and making fuel shipments to allies to help enhance their security have been of interest to Iran in recent years. Lebanon is a case in point as Iran and its proxy, the Hezbollah, have tried to use fuel as a …

The geography of Iran has provided special natural conditions for the country. Iran borders 13 countries, though its relations with many of its neighbors are strained. Iran’s geopolitical realities present a unique challenge to its leadership, particularly when considering the export of oil abroad. Rising tensions between Tehran and the …

Chabahar port could become a significant commercial outlet serving these countries, and it could also prove quite lucrative for Iran, which has struggled to raise funds in the wake of oil and gas sanctions. Iran’s strategic, geopolitical, and geoeconomic position has been carefully scrutinized by major countries around the world. …

The countries of the region should not be indifferent to the events in Afghanistan, considering their national interests, and should closely monitor the recent events in the country. The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country marks the beginning of a new era in Afghanistan’s socio-political …

Geopolitics in Transcaucasia have been influenced by several regional developments, ultimately having an impact on the trilateral Iranian-Azerbaijani-Turkish relations within the context of energy transport to the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan. With its vast oil and gas resources in the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan has no problem supplying the oil and …

Water scarcity is a growing problem in Iran that has arisen for a variety of reasons, ranging from climate change to poor governance. In recent years, the problem of water scarcity has reached a critical stage in parts of Iran, and there have been numerous reports of growing tensions, clashes and …

Russia does not want Iran to develop any relations with the West that could put distance between the two countries, or, crucially, allow Iran to export oil and gas to Europe in competition with Moscow. In the areas surrounding the Caspian Sea, it is assumed that Russia will continue to …

Despite a rapprochement of sorts in 2019 (see EDM, March 20, 2019), Iran’s relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan faced new strains and challenges during the final year of Hassan Rouhani’s presidency (set to end on August 3, 2021), especially following the outbreak of the Second Karabakh War in late September …