MenuDuring the opening months of the Second World War, things moved slowly first in the period that became known as the Phony War, or Sitzkrieg in German. Following the fall of Poland in September 1939, and before Germany invaded Denmark and Norway in April 1940, the absence of sustained military operations created the illusion of normalcy.
Tag Archives: Iran
The Iran Deal Drives Oil Prices Down, But Uncertainty Looms
The announcement that Washington and Tehran have agreed to end hostilities and restore commercial access to the Strait of Hormuz has had a massive impact on markets. Crude futures dropped sharply. Read the full article here.
Water Is A Weapon In The Third Gulf War
If the current Gulf War, marked by controversy over control of the Strait of Hormuz, does not end soon, the conflict may shift from attacks on the transport of oil by sea to disrupting vital potable water resources. Just before President Trump announced Thursday, June 11, that the ceasefire is to be signed imminently, the U.S. allegedly
Iranian Aggression Masks Economic Difficulties
Since June 7, Iran and its proxy, the Houthi rebels (with their rallying cry, “God is great, death to America, death to Israel, a curse upon the Jews, victory to Islam”), have launched more than 30 ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting the Israelis to retaliate with airstrikes, and setting the stage for renewed hostilities and escalating
Bitter Harvest: How The Iran Crisis Is Altering Fertilizer Markets
Warfare in the Persian Gulf is hitting markets well beyond oil and gas. Disruptions near the southern Iranian coastal city of Bandar Abbas and the near-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-third of globally traded fertilizer moves — are forcing buyers to rethink sourcing strategies that had been established for decades. Fertilizer prices
A Tale Of Two Oil Shocks: Why 2026 Feels Big, But Isn’t As Big As 1973
As the world watches the next act in the U.S.-Iran drama with bated breath, the headlines write themselves: the worst oil disruption in history, a fifth of global supply at risk, and Brent crude close to $110. The International Energy Agency has warned that the ongoing Iran War represents an unprecedented supply shock. Yet before declaring this
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
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