The fate of the Iranian economy is increasingly shaping debates about the country’s future—one that may prove decisive regardless of how its current political struggles unfold. Public frustration over rising living costs has once again spilled into protests across the country, shining a harsh light on how state resources are allocated and managed. As demonstrations […]
It’s the economy: grim livelihoods explain Iranian anger Read More »
The Donald Trump administration’s actions since the beginning of 2025 to increase pressure and sanctions on the Islamic Republic with the aim of “halting” Iran’s oil exports have been largely unsuccessful, although this policy has sharply raised the costs for Tehran of evading sanctions. The Trump administration had promised to reduce Iran’s oil exports to
2025: Trump–Khamenei’s Lose-Lose Standoff Over Oil Exports Read More »
As Azerbaijan and other Caspian Sea states deepen partnerships with Western energy companies to extract more oil and gas from aging offshore fields, Iran stands apart as the only Caspian littoral country that produces no hydrocarbons from the sea at all. Across the region, governments are racing to modernize reservoir management as competition for long-term
As Caspian states pursue energy growth, Iran watches Read More »
The seizure by US forces last week of an oil tanker in the Caribbean for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from Iran and Venezuela may signal a policy shift that could endanger the funding of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran’s budget for this fiscal year had given the sprawling paramilitary body new economic power by
US seizure of tanker off Venezuela may squeeze Iran’s shadow oil trade Read More »
A grey afternoon in Tehran begins with the growl of thousands of vehicles. Yet beneath the familiar bustle lies a troubling transformation: the government has quietly shifted much of the country’s mobility onto low‑octane, additive‑laden petrol. Confidential data from the national refining and distribution company reveal that consumption of sub‑standard “ordinary” fuel has soared —
Sub‑standard gas: Iran’s shift to low‑quality petrol Read More »
Over the past year, air pollution in Iranian cities has visibly worsened. But the smoke that hangs over Tehran, Zanjan, and Bushehr is more than seasonal haze — it is the result of a deliberate shift in energy policy. Confidential data from Iran’s Ministry of Oil, obtained and reviewed by Iran Open Data, reveal that
Iran’s Dirty Revival — A 540% Jump in Mazut‑Burning in One Province Read More »
On September 26, 2025, the Swiss air quality technology company IQAir ranked Tehran as the most polluted city in the world. A day later, the Iranian capital—along with several other major cities—experienced their most polluted days of the year. Air quality indices in parts of Tehran surpassed the “very unhealthy” threshold, while Mashhad, Isfahan, Urmia, Tabriz, Qom, and several
Iran’s Escalating Air Pollution Crisis Read More »
Despite facing a growing domestic gas deficit and widespread use of highly polluting fuel oil, Iran’s gas deliveries to Turkey have continued to surge according to official Turkish energy statistics. Newly released data from Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA), affiliated with the Ministry of Energy show that Iran supplied more than 5.5 billion cubic meters of
Iran boosts gas exports to Turkey despite deepening domestic shortages Read More »
The International Energy Agency says Qatar will record the world’s fastest growth in natural gas exports over the next decade and, alongside the United States, will dominate most of the emerging global gas markets. The assessment is not so positive for Iran. According to the agency’s assessment, Iran exported around 15 billion cubic meters of
Iran Watches Qatar’s Soaring Gas Exports from Shared Field Read More »
New shipping data show that despite a surge in oil loadings from its Persian Gulf terminals over the past two months, Iran has faced difficulties in getting its crude to Chinese buyers, resulting in a large buildup of Iranian floating oil storage near Chinese waters. Data from the commodity analytics firm Kpler indicate that over
Iran Increases Floating Oil Storage Amid Difficulty in Deliveries to China Read More »
