Analysts often describe geopolitical crises as “holding hostage” global oil markets. But the latest developments in the Persian Gulf suggest something more striking: Iran is not merely disrupting the system; it is openly defying it. Iran has shut down traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and has targeted at least fifteen tankers and commercial vessels. […]
Iran Is Not Just Holding Oil Markets Hostage—It Is Mocking Them Read More »
hile Iran has effectively choked off oil exports by its Arab neighbors through the Strait of Hormuz, it has continued shipping its own crude largely uninterrupted. Since the start of joint US–Israeli strikes on February 28, Iran has targeted at least 16 vessels and tankers, sharply curbing flows through one of the world’s most critical
Iran shields its oil exports as Hormuz flows falter Read More »
Failure to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is beginning to show what prolonged disruption could mean for global energy markets. Early volatility has been sharp but manageable, yet the longer the disruption lasts, the greater the risk that physical shortages—rather than price swings—will drive the crisis. In recent days, Iranian attacks have expanded
Hormuz disruption tests limits of global energy markets 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 »
