Restarting Production Requires More than Reopening Valves, Likely Taking Weeks Rather than Days Iraq’s claim that it can restore oil production and exports within seven days of a Strait of Hormuz reopening may reassure markets, but the process would not be simple. Iraqi officials, including Deputy Oil Minister Basim Mohammed …
Read More »The United Arab Emirates Exits OPEC and OPEC+
The Decision Sends a Signal That National Priorities Now Outweigh Collective Discipline The United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave OPEC and the expanded OPEC+ that brought in nearly a dozen other oil-producing members not included in the original OPEC, effective May 1, 2026, is more than a routine policy shift. …
Read More »Iran war turns India-Saudi oil trade into a strategic partnership
What once looked like diversification for both now feels like necessity. The relationship is no longer just about barrels moving from one port to another; it is increasingly about managing shared risks, building joint infrastructure, and aligning long-term strategies The Iran-Israel war of 2026 has not only disrupted global energy …
Read More »Venezuela’s Return to Oil Markets Enhances Israel’s Energy Security
Changes in One Producer’s Political and Economic Conditions Can Ripple Across Global Energy Markets On February 10, 2026, Bloomberg reported that traders shipped Venezuelan crude oil to Israel’s Bazan Group, the country’s largest refinery operator in Haifa. The cargo marks the first Venezuelan delivery to Israel since mid-2020, when Israel imported approximately …
Read More »Why Iran’s Oil Workers Have Not Struck
A Fragmented Labor Force, Strict Security, and Other Factors Constrain Workers from Mobilizing, Not Apathy or Ignorance Iran’s latest wave of unrest has revived the expectation that sustained protests eventually will reach the oil sector and choke off the regime’s primary revenue stream. That escalation has not occurred. The absence …
Read More »Iran risks severe economic downturn, unrest as renewed UN sanctions bite
By Parisa HafeziOctober 22, 20257:59 AM GMT+3Updated 3 hours ago DUBAI, Oct 21 (Reuters) – Iran’s economy is at risk of simultaneous hyperinflation and severe recession, officials and analysts say, as clerical rulers scramble to preserve stability with limited room to manoeuvre after a snapback of U.N. sanctions. They followed a breakdown …
Read More »Iran’s Energy Dilemma: Constraints, Repercussions, and Policy Options
Despite vast oil and gas reserves, Iran faces a severe energy crisis due to decades of mismanagement, excessive subsidies, corruption, and international sanctions, which have crippled its infrastructure and distorted energy markets. Without structural reforms and international engagement, the country risks deeper economic instability, environmental degradation, and political unrest. Iran has …
Read More »China’s Response to the Iran-Israel Conflict and the Hormuz Threat
Introduction China’s evolving position on the Iran-Israel conflict reflects a pragmatic adjustment to align with its broader geopolitical and economic goals, particularly in light of Iran’s June 2025 parliamentary move to potentially close the Strait of Hormuz. Initially, Beijing backed Iran’s sovereignty, endorsing Tehran’s “self-defense” claims against Israeli strikes.[1] By …
Read More »From Sanctions to Seizures: The New U.S. Push to Halt Iranian Oil Shipments
Iran Economy & Innovation Commentary Dr. Umud Shokri EN AR TR FA According to media reports, the Trump administration is thinking about physically intercepting and inspecting Iranian oil tankers on the high seas as part of a major escalation of Washington’s so-called “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic. According to March 2025 reports, American …
Read More »A New President Visits an Old Partner: Tehran Turns to Iraq
In his first trip abroad as president, Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iraq’s central role in Iran’s foreign policy. Masoud Pezeshkian’s inaugural trip to Iraq from September 11-13 marked a pivotal moment in the evolving relationship between the two neighbors. The new president’s visit underscores Iraq’s strategic importance to Iran and reflects Pezeshkian’s commitment …
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