‘The Game Has Changed’
The real question to ask about the American drone attack that killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani was not whether it was justified, but whether it was wise. Many pieces of Continue Reading
Rival Shi’ite leaders in Iraq call for U.S. troop expulsion in rare show of unity
Rival Shi’ite political leaders on Friday called for American troops to be expelled from Iraq after a U.S. air strike in Baghdad killed a senior Iranian general, in an unusual Continue Reading
U.S. oil workers leave Iraq after air strike on Iranian leader
BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) – U.S. citizens working for foreign oil companies in the southern Iraqi oil city of Basra were leaving the country on Friday, the Oil Ministry said, after Continue Reading
Iraqi oil sector holds fast amid storm of U.S.-Iran conflict
Iraq’s oil sector is operating without disruption, despite the evacuation of some foreign oil workers in the aftermath of the U.S. assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassim Soleimani and Continue Reading
U.S. embassy urges citizens to depart Iraq immediately: statement
The United States embassy in Baghdad urged on Friday all citizens to depart Iraq immediately, hours after the U.S. killed Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Continue Reading
U.S. Strike on Iranian General Divides Congress
The killing of the powerful commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, in a drone strike on Friday sharply divided congressional leaders along party lines and Continue Reading
Iranian general’s death raises likelihood of more attacks in Middle East: analysts
Crude oil futures spiked in Asia Friday on news that the US had killed General Qassim Soleimani, leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s foreign wing, in a strike in Iraq. Continue Reading
U.S. Sanctions Have Cost Iran $200 Billion
President Hassan Rohani made the comments while launching a railway project near Tehran on December 31. “Iran would have earned $200 billion surplus income…if the country were not involved in Continue Reading
Iran vows revenge after U.S. kills top Iranian commander Soleimani
Iran vowed harsh revenge after the United States killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and architect of Iran’s spreading military influence in the Middle East, Continue Reading
Turkey Lays Legal Ground for Deploying Troops to Libya
Turkey’s parliament has authorized the government to dispatch troops to Libya, highlighting Ankara’s increasingly assertive policy in the Mediterranean region. A resolution approved during an emergency parliamentary session on Thursday gives Continue Reading
December exports fall, but revenues rise on strong oil price
Iraq’s nationwide crude exports fell by more than 3 percent to an average 3.874 million barrels per day (bpd) in December. * The decreased oil sales appeared to reflect Iraq’s Continue Reading
Erdogan says up to 250,000 Syrians flee toward Turkey as crisis worsens
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday up to 250,000 migrants were fleeing toward Turkey from Syria’s northwest Idlib region after weeks of renewed bombardment by Russian and Syrian government forces. Continue Reading
Israeli team develops decoupled PEC water-splitting system for centralized production of H2
Researchers in Israel have designed a separate-cell photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting system with decoupled hydrogen and oxygen cells for centralized hydrogen production. A paper describing their system is published in the Continue Reading
Rock-throwing Iraqi militias quit U.S. embassy after protests
Supporters of Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary groups who stormed the U.S. embassy’s perimeter and hurled rocks in two days of protests withdrew on Wednesday after Washington dispatched extra troops and threatened Continue Reading
Senior brain drain looms for Oil Ministry if federal retirement order goes into effect
Two of Iraq’s four deputy oil ministers, the chief of oil contracts, and nearly a dozen senior Oil Ministry officials are included in the first tranche of officials forced out Continue Reading
Protesters burn security post at U.S. Embassy in Iraq; Pentagon sending more troops to region
Protesters angry about U.S. air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, setting off a confrontation with guards and Continue Reading
U.S. deploying 750 soldiers after protest at U.S. Embassy in Iraq: Pentagon chief
The United States is immediately deploying about 750 soldiers to the Middle East in response to the violent protests at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Continue Reading
Trump Warns Iran as Risk of Wider Armed Conflict Grows
President Trump toughened his rhetoric toward Iran on Tuesday, saying the country would “ be held fully responsible ” for the attack by Iraqi demonstrators on the United States Embassy Continue Reading
Why the U.S. Became the Focus of Iraqis’ Anger
Months of anti-government protests had centered on Iran’s influence in the country. A rocket attack and a series of airstrikes changed that. For months, furious protests have battered Iraq, driven Continue Reading
Turmoil in Iraq comes amid shrunken U.S. diplomatic footprint
The storming of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad by protesters on Tuesday has underscored the vulnerability of U.S. diplomats in a country stuck in the middle of a mounting conflict Continue Reading
Iran Wants To Start Oil & Gas Production In This Disputed Hotspot
Given the array of sweetener deals in the oil and gas sector promised to Russia by Iran in the past year or so – suspended until public outcry over these Continue Reading
Why The Saudis Suddenly Agreed To This Mega Oil Deal
Strange, is it not, that an agreement has suddenly been reached between Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Kuwait on the oil and gas fields that they share in the ‘Neutral Zone’ Continue Reading
Iraq condemns U.S. air strikes as unacceptable and dangerous
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Monday condemned U.S. airstrikes on bases of Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, a move that could plunge Iraq further into the heart of a proxy Continue Reading
Protesters outside U.S. Baghdad embassy rage against air strikes
Thousands of protesters and militia fighters gathered on Tuesday outside the main gate of the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to an Iranian-backed Continue Reading
U.S. Baghdad ambassador evacuated from embassy amid protests: Iraqi officials
The U.S. ambassador and other staff have been evacuated from the embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad as protests rage outside, two Iraqi Foreign Ministry officials told Reuters on Tuesday. Continue Reading
American Airstrikes Rally Iraqis Against U.S.
Associated Press Iraq has been caught for years in a tug of war between its two most powerful patrons, the United States and Iran. In recent months, public opinion began Continue Reading
Iran Looks To Boost Offshore Oil Production By 85,000 Bpd
The Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) is currently implementing US$2.6 billion worth of projects expected to boost Iran’s offshore oil production by 85,000 barrels per day (bpd), Iranian media reported Continue Reading
Political vacuum could upend key Oil Ministry plans
A project to double the Nassiriya field’s production capacity is tied to a federal budget likely strangled by political fighting. Flares burn at the Nassiriya oil field on May 7, Continue Reading
Nassiriya oil field shut in as protests block staff access
The Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) on Saturday shut down the Nassiriya oil field as job-seekers crowded around the state-run company’s headquarters and its flagship asset — the latest instance Continue Reading
Top Iraqi militia leader warns of strong response to U.S. air strikes
A top Iraqi militia leader warned of a strong response against U.S. forces in Iraq following air strikes in Iraq and Syria overnight that hit several bases of his Iranian-backed Continue Reading
U.S. Strikes Shiite Militia Targets in Iraq and Syria
The U.S. carried out airstrikes against an Iranian-backed Shiite militia group in Iraq and Syria, in the Trump administration’s most forceful response to Tehran’s assertive posture in the region. The Continue Reading
U.S. Launches Airstrikes on Iranian-Backed Forces in Iraq and Syria
The United States military on Sunday struck five targets in Iraq and Syria controlled by an Iranian-backed paramilitary group, the Pentagon said, a reprisal for a rocket attack on Friday Continue Reading
The One Region Oil Markets Can’t Ignore In 2020
The year that is drawing to its close has been turbulent for the Middle East. While oil prices stubbornly refused to respond to efforts to push them higher, remaining locked Continue Reading
Interview: Saudi Arabia’s breakeven oil price to dip amid lower spending, says IMF
Saudi Arabia’s breakeven oil price in 2020 is expected to be lower than $83.6/b to balance its budget, as the world’s biggest oil exporter signals an end to the expansionary Continue Reading
Iraq resumes southern field production after protesters halt work: ministry
Highlights No impact on output, exports due to Nasiriyah shutdown OPEC’s second largest oil producer is flouting its quota Dubai — Iraq resumed on Monday production from the Nasiriyah southern Continue Reading
Turkey unveils first fully homemade car in $3.7 billion bet on electric
Turkey unveiled its first fully domestically-produced car on Friday, saying it aimed to eventually produce up to 175,000 a year of the electric vehicle in a project expected to cost Continue Reading
Why 2020 Could Be a Year of Escalation With Iran
After the dramatic cruise missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais on Sept. 14, the provocations by Iran and its proxies against Saudi Arabia and Continue Reading
Turkey to send troops to Libya at Tripoli’s request: Erdogan
Turkey will send troops to Libya at the request of Tripoli as soon as next month, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, putting the North African country’s conflict at the Continue Reading
Iraqi president threatens to quit in defiance of Iran’s allies in parliament
Iraqi President Barham Salih refused on Thursday to designate the nominee of an Iran-backed parliamentary bloc for prime minister, saying he would rather resign than appoint someone to the position Continue Reading
Turkey to send troops to Libya in support of Tripoli government
Turkey said it would send troops to Libya after Tripoli’s UN-backed government requested greater military support in its battle against a rival administration, in a move that risks escalating tensions Continue Reading
ISIS at a crossroads
Islamic State fighters are regrouping in a remote stretch of eastern Iraq, aiming to revive their fortunes after the defeat of their caliphate early this year. “They are posing a Continue Reading
Global Superpowers Vie For Power In World’s Most Important Oil Chokepoint
Iran, Russia, and China will begin on Saturday joint navy drills in the northern Indian Ocean, an Iranian military spokesman said on Wednesday, amid simmering tensions in the Middle East Continue Reading
Assad Plans To Sue The U.S. Over ‘Stealing’ Syria’s Oil
Syria’s government is considering suing the United States in an international court over what a senior advisor to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad referred to as the ‘stealing’ of Syria’s oil. Continue Reading
Islamic State suspected of oil field attack Tuesday near Kirkuk
One oil facilities protection officer was shot to death late Tuesday in a suspected Islamic State (IS) group attack on a vulnerable well of the Khabbaz oil field, 25 kilometers Continue Reading
Erdogan says Turkey will send troops to Libya
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey will send troops to Libya now that Tripoli has requested it, and he will present legislation to parliament in January for deployment Continue Reading
NATO Faces a Fresh Quandary as Turkey Tips Toward Russia
President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan left the stage after a group photo taken at the NATO summit in the U.K. this month. Photo: peter nicholls/Reuters The declaration Continue Reading
Islamic State suspected of oil field attack Tuesday near Kirkuk
T One oil facilities protection officer was shot to death late Tuesday in a suspected Islamic State (IS) group attack on a vulnerable well of the Khabbaz oil field, 25 Continue Reading
Iran militias revive Islamic State oil trade into Syria from Iraq: sources
Highlights Militias also control some Syrian oil fields Illicit oil sales between 4,000 b/d and 10,000 b/d Trade highlights Iran’s entanglement in Iraq London — Iranian proxy militias are thought Continue Reading
Oil Markets Brace For Another 500,000 Bpd Oil Field To Come Online
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia could be days from agreeing the restart of oil production from the two fields they share in the so-called neutral zone. Bloomberg quoted Kuwait’s Oil Minister, Continue Reading
Why UAE Oil Prices Are Falling
Prices of Abu Dhabi’s popular flagship crude grade, Murban , have dropped over the past week as refiners prefer grades yielding more low-sulfur marine fuels and as supertanker freight rates Continue Reading