Oil

Kharg Island and the new energy war over Iran’s collapsing oil exports - opinion

Iran’s Kharg Island shows the hidden cost of sanctions: empty oil terminals, environmental damage, and mounting pressure.

A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. 2026
US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping arrive at state dinner, Great Hall of the People, Beijing, 2017.

Trump says Xi agrees Iran must open Hormuz, China calls war unjustified

Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026.

Chinese supertanker breaks through US-Iran war blockade in Hormuz

A Satellite image shows a likely oil spill covering dozens of square kilometers near Iran’s Kharg Island, earlier this month.

In double trouble: Iran’s oil crisis – opinion


Syria relies on Russia's oil despite pivot to the West

Oil shipments from Russia have jumped 75% to about 60,000 barrels per day this year, making Moscow the country's dominant crude supplier following the fall of Assad in December 2024.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 28, 2026.

Fractures rock Gulf alliance as UAE quits OPEC during Iran war - analysis

Abu Dhabi’s exit, a summit snub, and public criticism expose a widening Saudi-Emirati split reshaping energy and security coordination.

UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei speaks, on the day of the Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) conference, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 4, 2026.

Iran may run out of oil storage within weeks under US blockade pressure

As a result of the blockade on Iranian ports, Tehran has been forced to store all the oil it extracts through various means, including onshore facilities and floating storage aboard vessels.

 US military forces boarded the crude oil tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean after pursuing it from the Caribbean. The vessel was accused of breaching Washington's blockade on sanctioned vessels traveling to or from Venezuela. February 9, 2026.

Darkness at noon: Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz is more devastating than nukes - opinion

Does Washington not realize that Tehran is already holding the world hostage? Hegemony over Hormuz is the bomb – a weapon far more immediate and devastating than any nuclear arsenal.

An illustrative image of a cargo ship by the Strait of Hormuz.

World Bank warns of 16% rise in commodity pricing over Hormuz closure

World Bank forecasts a 24% rise in energy prices in 2026, driven by the Iran conflict and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting global markets.

 A participant stands near a logo of the World Bank at the International Monetary Fund - World Bank Annual Meeting 2018 in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, October 12, 2018

Behind Tehran’s calm, Iran faces deepening economic collapse

While the streets are full of people, their pockets are empty. The Iranian rial has become a liability that citizens are desperate to offload.

A woman walks past a billboard featuring an image of the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a building, amid a ceasefire between US and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 27, 2026

UAE exit weakens OPEC+ power over oil market but group to stay together, sources say - analysis

The exit would complicate OPEC+'s efforts to balance the market through supply adjustments because the group would have control over less of the global production.

 A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020.

UAE taking advantage of long-term global energy needs by leaving OPEC - analysis

“At a pivotal moment in the process of supporting the stability of global energy markets, the UAE adopted a long-term strategic and economic vision,” one report says.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE National Security Adviser, arrive at Doha International Airport, in Doha, Qatar, September 10, 2025

Iran uses improvised oil storage to avoid damage to oil facilities amid blockade - report

This situation stems from the fact that the Iranian extraction and refining systems can't be shut down, with Kharg Island's infrastructure at risk of failure if the oil flow is cut.

 Iranian flag with stock graph and an oil pump jack miniature model are seen in this illustration taken October 9, 2023.

UAE leaves OPEC and OPEC+ in major blow to global oil producers' group

UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei told Reuters the decision was made after a careful look at the regional power's energy strategies.

UAE's Oil Minister OPEC President Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei and OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo address a news conference after an OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria, June 22, 2018.