Roughly 170 million barrels of Iranian oil now sit in maritime limbo, circling the globe in what appears less a sanctions workaround than a strategic reserve. It’s enough crude to meet Japan’s energy needs for 50 days — or to fund Iran’s entire annual cash subsidy programme twice over. IOD’s analysis of shipping and energy […]
Iran’s oil exports declined sharply at the start of 2026, new tanker-tracking data show, raising fresh questions about the durability of Tehran’s most important economic lifeline under renewed US sanctions pressure. Crude oil loadings from Iran’s Persian Gulf terminals fell to below 1.39 million barrels per day in January, a 26 percent drop from a
Tehran’s oil lifeline shows signs of strain under tightening sanctions Read More »
Despite decades of sanctions, military threats, and strategic warnings, nearly all of Iran’s oil exports still flow through a single island—and one of the world’s most volatile maritime chokepoints. As regional tensions escalate, this dependency has become one of the Islamic Republic’s most dangerous structural liabilities. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has warned that any future conflict will
Iran’s Energy Chokepoint: Why Kharg Island Puts Tehran at Risk Read More »
While China’s overseas investment in Belt and Road Initiative projects surged by 62 percent last year compared to 2024, exceeding $85 billion, two sanctioned countries—Russia and Iran, which ironically consider themselves China’s most important partners—received almost none of these investments. A new report by the Green Finance & Development Center shows that the value of Chinese construction
China’s Foreign Investment Jumps as Beijing Bypasses Iran and Russia Read More »
ehran’s frequently invoked threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz may be far easier to signal than to carry out, not least because it would harm allied China more than the hostile West. For now, the threat is muted as Iran and the United States have returned to the negotiating table. But the shadow of
Why Iran may not afford to close the Strait of Hormuz Read More »
By Joseph Epstein and Dalga Khatinoglu Iran is facing a water emergency that hydrologists and environmental experts warn may now be irreversible. Major reservoirs are depleted, groundwater reserves are collapsing, and senior officials are openly warning of citizens rationing water and even evacuating the capital due to water shortages. While the crisis is often attributed to drought or
How Israeli technology could help solve Iran’s water crisis Read More »
Iranians face deepening and severe financial crises, a reality that has fueled nationwide protests and to which the Islamic Republic’s security forces have responded with bloody repression, killing up to 20,000 civilians. Against this backdrop, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated on January 17, 2026, in remarks that reflect a misunderstanding of economic fundamentals, that “government
Why Iran’s Economy Is Irreparable Under the Islamic Republic Read More »
The continued production of surplus oil, combined with falling prices and the accelerating global shift toward clean energy, has complicated the fiscal outlook for Middle Eastern oil-exporting countries. The International Energy Agency estimates that in 2026 the global oil market will face an average surplus of 3.8 million barrels per day, while oil prices are expected to
Why 2026 Will Be a Tough Year for Middle Eastern Oil Producers Read More »
One year after US President Donald Trump returned to the White House and revived the “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran from his first term, available data show the country’s energy exports remain largely intact. Data from the commodity intelligence firm Kpler, seen by Iran International, show that in 2025 Iran delivered an average of 1.38
Iran’s energy trade defies year of US maximum pressure sanctions Read More »
A 25 percent tariff on US imports from any country that trades with Iran appears aimed at punishing third countries, but it is likely to hit Tehran far harder. The proposed secondary tariffs were announced by President Donald Trump earlier this week in response to a violent crackdown on protesters in Iran. Some commentators have
How Trump’s secondary tariffs could hurt Tehran Read More »
