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 …
Read More »NATO 3.0 and energy security: Rebalancing transatlantic defence in Ankara
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, …
Read More »Can Iran Really Impose Tolls on Strait of Hormuz Passage?
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 …
Read More »US sanctions waiver could bring Iran’s oil trade out of the shadows
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 …
Read More »US-Iran interim deal offers lifeline to Gulf producers, but oil flows unlikely to normalise overnight
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 …
Read More »The price of passage: Iran, Hormuz and the future of India’s energy security
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 …
Read More »Iran-Qatar Electricity Grid Interconnection Plan Shows Pragmatism in the Shadow of War
If Gulf-linked private capital participates in Iran’s reconstruction, it would show that regional actors are trying to shape Iran’s behavior and buy protection through economic incentivesTwo days after President Donald Trump announced agreement on a memorandum of understanding prolonging a ceasefire with Iran, Qatari Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi said feasibility studies were …
Read More »As US-Iran deal announcement paves way for Hormuz reopening, what lies ahead for India & oil markets
Crude prices fall as markets price out West Asia conflict risk. Analysts say India could benefit through lower import bill, easing inflation and improved energy security. New Delhi: The US-Iran peace agreement and the subsequent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could help ease global energy supplies, lower crude prices and provide relief …
Read More »US fuel prices drop as Iran ceasefire deal eases geopolitical tensions
Vice President JD Vance has cast falling fuel costs as a win for the US, telling Fox News the Trump administration would keep working to drive down energy prices. Oil fell on Monday after the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Washington and Tehran, with Brent crude dropping about 4 …
Read More »France’s Eastern Mediterranean energy strategy: Between commercial pragmatism and geopolitical ambition
France has emerged as a significant actor in the Eastern Mediterranean energy landscape, combining commercial interests, geopolitical ambition, and European energy security priorities. Its approach rests on three pillars: support for French corporate activity, especially through TotalEnergies; strategic alignment with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel; and efforts to counterbalance Turkey’s growing assertiveness …
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