The Gaza war has exerted significant pressure not only on the geopolitical equilibrium but have also sent ripples through global trade initiatives, energy markets, particularly affecting investment strategies and operations in the oil and gas sectors within the Mediterranean region. The ongoing Israel-Gaza war has dramatically increased geopolitical tensions across …
Read More »Is Iran Producing More Oil? Facts And Figures
Iran’s oil minister Javad Owji claimed on Wednesday that the country is producing 3.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil, about 1.2 mb/d more than in mid-2021. In recent months, Owji has consistently reported oil production growth figures that contradict estimates from international entities. Both OPEC and the …
Read More »China Leaves Iran Out Of Major Investment Projects
Despite close political relations with China, Iran has been largely left out of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and other regional investments, amid US sanctions. China is connected to Southeast and South Asia, Central Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Africa, and Europe through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a massive …
Read More »The Geopolitical Chessboard: IMEC’s Role in Shaping New Balance of Power
Key Points Beyond just building infrastructure, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project has significant geopolitical relevance and can transform world power relations amid a rising regional and global rivalry for transportation corridors. The IMEC project is a game-changer since it intends to boost connection, enable sustainable growth, and revolutionize …
Read More »Iran’s oil and gas industry a year after the war in Ukraine
Introduction Despite its abundant oil and gas reserves, over the last four decades Iran has not been able to play a prominent role in the global energy market. According to energy industry statistics, Iran requires at least US$160 billion in investment to continue to export its oil and natural gas. …
Read More »Obstacles and opportunities for closer Iranian-Chinese economic cooperation
Iranian-Chinese economic relations have grown steadily closer over the past four decades, with Beijing emerging as one of Tehran’s leading trade partners in recent years. Their economic relationship entered a new phase in the 1980s, when China started providing Iran with arms and technology during the Iran-Iraq War. But since …
Read More »Iran-Iraq competition in regional maritime and overland transit corridors
In recent years, Iraq has become one of the leading destinations for Chinese investments in the Middle East and a crucial link in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). To capitalize on its geostrategic location and central position within the Chinese BRI, Iraq is seeking to develop a sprawling new 54-square-kilometer port …
Read More »Saudi Arabia-Iran normalization and possible bilateral energy relations
Introduction In a breakthrough deal, brokered by China, Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed on the resumption of diplomatic relations and the mutual opening of embassies, a move that could change the balance of power in the Middle East and restore stability in the region. Under the agreement reached, the …
Read More »Iran-Saudi Agreement: In Search of Stable Oil Exports and New Relations
As a “neutral” power seeking to distance itself from the Middle East’s various geopolitical rivalries, China has supported reconciliation and peace to stabilize its access to the region’s resources. The relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been fraught with tension for decades, with each side accusing the other of interference in …
Read More »Iran and China Loom Large in Saudi Arabia’s “Game of Drones”
Driven by its desire for economic gain and the threat posed by Iran, Saudi Arabia has relied heavily on China to develop its domestic drone program—much to Washington’s chagrin. In recent years, many Middle Eastern states have devoted growing sums to research in cutting-edge defense technology—particularly drone warfare, a crucial …
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