MenuThe world is fighting a two-front energy war. One front runs through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran and the United States are locked in a standoff. My old acquaintance, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol, called this the worst energy shock in history, more severe than the 1970s oil crisis and the Ukraine war combined. The second front runs through
Monthly Archives: June 2026
Iran War Will Drive Gulf Petrodollar Capital Flight To…Hollywood
Investors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates who accumulated trillions from decades of oil sales have long been deploying sovereign wealth funds into Western assets. Their money has gone into technology, sports, infrastructure, real estate, and entertainment. That strategy was built on a simple premise: petrodollar revenues generated at home could be
Even For Americans, In A War, Energy Independence Has Its Limits
Oil prices collapsed from $119.54 in the Asian intra-day trade on March 9th to $89.88 on April 17th, after Iran announced that, following a ceasefire in Lebanon, it would keep the Strait of Hormuz open for the duration of the ceasefire. While no one knows exactly what will happen next as far as the conflict goes, it is
Energy In Flux: How The Current Crisis Is Shaping The Future Of Energy
On April 4th, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to make a deal or open up the Hormuz Strait. Time is running out…” Markets have been recoiling amid instability in the Middle East, and it does not appear that jittery investors will experience any relief in the near term. However, this
Three Ways Iran War Could End And What It Means For Global Energy
In the wake of American and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28th, Tehran reacted swiftly, attacking energy infrastructure, water desalination plants, and other soft targets across the Middle East as well as moving to close the Strait of Hormuz. Closure of the vital Strait has long been foreseen by security experts, including this author, who warned
Cuba’s Nationwide Blackouts Reveal Fragile Energy System
In March 2026, Cuba experienced nationwide blackouts affecting the island’s population of over 10,000,000 and bringing routine economic activity and essential services to a screeching halt. In many media narratives, this state of affairs is laid at the feet of the U.S. energy embargo on the island, often in the context of American policy towards Latin America.
What’s At Stake In The Iran-U.S. Confrontation
In the Middle East, Iran’s theocratic government is facing an abrupt leadership change as U.S. and Israeli forces launch coordinated military operations, including Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion. The conflict has raised concerns among analysts about regional security and potential disruptions to global energy markets. Tehran’s strategic ties with China and Russia further
Russia And Iran Are Reshaping Regional Power In Crisis And Confrontation
The U.S./Israel-Iran war is not just a confrontation with the Shia theocratic dictatorship in Iran and the Iranian proxies, like the Houthis and Hezbollah, involved in combat operations. Iran’s patrons and backers, primarily China and Russia, factor heavily in the mix. And there is no greater backer of Iran than Russia. Read the full article here.
How The Iran War Will Change Energy Markets And Oil Prices
The U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28th quickly escalated tensions across the Persian Gulf, prompting a range of Iranian attacks against energy infrastructure throughout the region and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait, a narrow water passage bordered on the north by Iran through which ships can transit from the Persian Gulf to
Where Else Can The World Get Energy After Iran’s Blockade Of Hormuz?
After U.S.-Israeli combat operations began against Iran on Saturday, February 28th, global energy prices surged as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that passage through the Strait of Hormuz was “not allowed.” This narrow body of water (the navigation channel is only two-miles wide) moves 20%-30% of the world’s supply of crude oil and liquified natural gas every day, including