Syria Holds an Estimated 2.5 Billion Barrels of Oil and 8.5 Trillion Cubic Feet of Gas but Reserves Do Not Guarantee Recovery Syria’s oil and gas sector once anchored state revenues and energy security. Before 2011, the country produced roughly 380,000 barrels per day of oil and about 25 million …
Read More »The Lukoil-West Qurna-2 Case Exposes Iraq’s Strategic Vulnerabilities
The Project That Once Balanced Russian Expertise with Iraqi Sovereignty Now Exposes the Fragility of This Set-up Western sanctions have reshaped Iraq’s oil sector. In October 2025, the United States and United Kingdom targeted Lukoil and Rosneft’s overseas operations to curtail Moscow’s war financing. Lukoil promptly declared force majeure at West Qurna-2, which …
Read More »Caspian Sea Decline Harms Iran and Raises Regional Tensions
The Caspian coast of Iran is at a turning point, where environmental deterioration, economic losses, and geopolitical tensions collide Climate change, increased evaporation, and decreased inflows from feeder rivers like the Volga are contributing to a dramatic and rapid drop in water levels in the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland …
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 »The Iğdır-Nakhichevan Pipeline: Development and Strategic Significance
A major change in the energy landscape of the South Caucasus has occurred with the opening of the Iğdır-Nakhichevan gas pipeline, which has strengthened strategic energy alliances and reshaped regional dependencies. This accomplishment is especially significant as Türkiye navigates a critical energy security phase, since important natural gas contracts with …
Read More »The Russia-Iran Strategic Partnership Pact: Energy Geopolitics and Shifting Global Alliances
When Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Moscow on 17 January 2025, it marked a significant turning point in the expanding partnership between Iran and Russia. Broad collaboration in vital areas like defense, counterterrorism, energy, finance, technology, cybersecurity, peaceful …
Read More »Can Iran Forestall a Domestic Energy Collapse?
The Government Is Reducing Fuel Quotas and Is Considering Digital Fuel Cards, Tiered Pricing, and Energy Coupons Iran consumes more energy per person than many developed nations, though poor energy efficiency leads to extensive waste. The core reasons for this are energy subsidies and pricing schemes that buck market realities. While Iranian …
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 »Geopolitics in Transit: U.S. Becomes Key Gas Player in Turkey
Turkey’s Growing Reliance on U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas Represents a Purposeful and Strategic Policy to Improve Energy Security As Turkey’s second-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas this past winter, the United States has become a significant player in the country’s gas industry. By topping five billion cubic meters and surpassing more established …
Read More »From Caspian to Continental: Türkiye’s Bid to Supply Europe with Turkmen and Azeri Gas
Significant progress has been made in establishing Türkiye as a major regional gateway for the transit of natural gas, especially in enabling the shipping of gas from Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan to Europe. Its strategic positioning in the global energy market is strengthened by its participation in significant infrastructure projects like …
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