Iran has shown it can disrupt regional energy flows. What remains far less clear is whether it can use that leverage to shape the outcome of the conflict in its favor. Over the past several days, Iranian missiles have targeted three oil tankers and several oil and gas facilities in neighboring countries while also obstructing […]
Iran’s oil weapon may rattle markets but not alter the war Read More »
After suffering U.S. and Israeli strikes on its military and senior officials, the Islamic Republic launched a missile and drone assault against Arab states along the Persian Gulf. Iranian forces launched roughly 1,500 drones and missiles at Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and even Oman as of March 3, 2026.
Attacking Gulf Arab States Was a Huge Mistake for Iran 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 »
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 »
Amid growing speculation about a possible U.S. military strike on Iranian targets—triggered by the horrific killing of thousands of protesters by Iran’s security forces—American news media report that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman are lobbying Washington to prevent military action against Iran. Oman’s foreign minister visited Tehran on January 10, 2026, at the height of the protests, just two
Why Arab States Are Trying to Prevent a U.S. Attack on Iran Read More »
Amidst cautious optimism about reviving Syria’s economy, the country this month hosted two delegations from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to discuss support for its reconstruction. On the eve of the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Syria’s economic indicators under new President Ahmed al-Sharaa are showing signs of improvement. The World
Hope and Anxiety Over Syria’s Economic Revival Read More »
