Umud Shokri
Senior visiting fellow, George Mason University
Washington-Based Foreign Policy and Energy Geopolitics Adviser.
Senior visiting fellow, George Mason University
Washington-Based Foreign Policy and Energy Geopolitics Adviser.
The Iranian president’s visit to Azerbaijan, soon to be followed by the Israeli prime minister's trip, highlights Baku’s sophisticated geopolitical maneuvering as Tehran and Tel Aviv vie for influence in the strategically vital South Caucasus.
In recent years, Iranian authorities have often announced significant discoveries of oil and gas reserves, but, in reality, the government has faced tremendous challenges – often self-inflicted – in actually extracting these resources.
Despite a persistent and alarming deficit in its natural gas production, Iran recently chose to renew gas export contracts with Iraq – a decision that can have severe consequences for its own energy needs.
Hopes for increased economic cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia following last year's diplomatic reconciliation have not materialized, due to historical and political factors
As Qatar sets higher ambitions for its gas output, Iranian officials scramble to justify their under-performance in developing the South Pars field, resorting to statistical maneuvers to deflect criticism.
Bijan Zanganeh, Iran's former oil minister, has made bold assertions regarding Iran's potential to significantly increase its oil production, despite minimal investments and limited access to technology.
Recently, Russia and Iran are seeking closer cooperation in energy, technology, agriculture, finance, and infrastructure, yet significant joint oil and gas projects remain pending.
Iran and Pakistan once again are aiming to revive a gas pipeline project that has been languishing for more than a decade, amid sanctions and bilateral issues between the two neighbors.
The Gaza-Israel conflict has significant implications for Iran's already strained economy, characterized by currency devaluation, reduced government revenues, and high inflation.
Iran asserts that its space program is geared towards fostering scientific advancement, yet it undeniably bolsters its regional influence, and could enhance its hard power capabilities.
The military collaboration between Iran and Russia has significantly intensified since the invasion of Ukraine, with Tehran delivering offensive weapons used against civilian targets.
Iran’s recently stated plan to build four more nuclear power reactors has raised questions about its feasibility as the country wrestles with economic crisis and isolation.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Turkey this week came against the backdrop of the Gaza war, ongoing regional crisis and conflicts in bilateral relations.
Iran currently lacks a substantial presence in the burgeoning hydrogen industry, despite its abundance of natural gas and renewable energy potential.
Iran has significantly increased the consumption of Mazut, a dirty fuel, in cement factories, despite widespread warnings and criticisms of its use in power plants.
Media reports have highlighted Iran's renewed interest in pursuing FATF membership, and recently, the Ministry of Economy sent a protest letter to the financial watchdog.
Iran's already significant winter gas shortage has been exacerbated by Turkmenistan's decision to halt gas deliveries to Iran, including gas swaps with Azerbaijan this year.
Iran's Statistical Center recently announced a decline in the country's unemployment rate to 7.6 percent this fall from 10.6 in the same period in 2019.
Iran officially became a member of the China-led BRICS economic organization on Monday, as it seeks to overcome the impact of US sanctions and overcome it isolation.
Iran announced this week that it exported $26.5 billion of oil during the past 9 months, a figure that contradicts both previous Iranian and international estimates.
As Iran grapples with a severe lack of foreign investment, its Arab neighbors are increasingly channeling funds into Iran's northern regions, boosting trade turnover.
As Iran’s domestic carmakers lose money due to sanctions, a technological gap and mismanagement, officials are promising to boost the electrical vehicle production.
Iran, despite having the world's second-largest natural gas reserves, has not yet become an LNG producer, and faces a critical shortage for essential domestic needs.
As a significant winter gas shortage looms in Iran due to increased household usage, officials are once again highlighting the nation's substantial gas consumption.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency has stated that Tehran envisions to boost its oil exports to Venezuela, with a target of 860,000 barrels per day within three years.
With a potential output worth $450 billion over its first 20 years, Iran’s Chalous gas field in the Caspian Sea, raises issues of both finance and where the gas might sell.
Sitting on 17 percent of world gas reserves, Iran should have no trouble renewing a contract to supply gas to Turkey that expires in 2025. So why are there concerns in Tehran?
