The recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting stranding of over 10 million barrels per day of crude from the Persian Gulf served as a stark wake-up call for import-dependent nations worldwide. In response, countries are racing to expand strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) and commercial storage capacity for both oil and LNG. […]
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In a striking development reported today by energy expert Dr. Anas Alhajji, more than 30 oil tankers carrying Iranian crude—with their AIS transponders visibly active—are currently heading to Asia. These vessels are loaded with over 50 million barrels of crude oil, according to shipping data from Kpler. This visible convoy marks a significant shift following […]
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China’s push to bring a second dedicated import terminal online for cargoes from Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project underscores strong underlying demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world’s largest buyer. The move highlights Beijing’s willingness to absorb discounted but geopolitically exposed supply to meet structural needs, even as stable alternatives like Qatar […]
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Iran is tightening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, with new rules requiring ships to obtain permission and secure insurance from Tehran. This move explicitly paves the way for future tolls, even as a fragile U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed earlier this week aimed to normalize flows. […]
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West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is trading around $75 per barrel today, with Brent near $78. Following the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, headline prices have eased significantly from the peaks above $120 seen during the conflict. Yet a growing disconnect exists between these paper/futures prices and the […]
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QatarEnergy is moving LNG tankers back to its Ras Laffan Industrial City complex as it prepares to resume exports once safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is restored, following a preliminary U.S.-Iran deal that has raised hopes for regional de-escalation. Vessel-tracking data shows that at least four Qatar-owned LNG carriers recently began heading toward […]
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In a symbolic breakthrough for global energy shipping, the first LNG tanker has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz following the late Sunday announcement of a U.S.-Iran framework deal to end the war and reopen the critical chokepoint. Early on Monday, June 15, the Indian-flagged LNG carrier Disha (chartered by state-owned Petronet LNG and operated […]
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The recent U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has triggered a wave of optimism in oil markets. Traders are pricing in a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a rapid normalization of supply chains, and a return to lower pre-crisis price levels. Brent crude has already dropped toward $83–$84 per barrel, with WTI near $80–$81, […]
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ENB Pub Note: This article is from David Blackmon’s Substack, and we highly recommend subscribing. Iran’s overreliance on the Strait of Hormuz as a geopolitical weapon is proving self-destructive. By threatening or disrupting this critical chokepoint – through which roughly 20 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil historically flowed – Iran has accelerated the […]
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In the high-stakes waters of the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20% of global oil trade flows daily, a dramatic incident unfolded on June 8-9, 2026, that underscores the unseen military efforts keeping energy markets stable. A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter was struck by an Iranian Shahed drone, forcing an emergency ditching into the […]
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