U.S. Central Command forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers on September 8 after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at a U.S. Navy warship twice in two days. The American vessel evaded both attacks and continued patrols with no personnel harmed. CENTCOM identified the targeted vessels as the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, […]
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As the Iran-U.S. conflict grinds toward the six-month mark in mid-August 2026, Tehran continues to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz—the critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG once flowed—while the United States maintains a naval blockade on Iranian ports and escalates economic pressure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has signaled […]
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The U.S. naval blockade of Iran, enforced since mid-April 2026, is delivering a measurable blow to Tehran’s oil-dependent economy. Iranian crude and condensate exports have plummeted from nearly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) earlier this year to below 300,000 bpd in May, according to trade intelligence firm Kpler. At conservative Brent prices around $90 […]
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In a significant escalation of regional conflict, a drone strike targeted the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE’s Al Dhafra region on May 17, 2026. The incident, which sparked a fire in an external electrical generator outside the plant’s inner perimeter, has raised immediate concerns about nuclear safety and energy infrastructure vulnerability in the […]
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WASHINGTON/BEIJING – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a stark update on Iran’s oil sector while in Beijing for the Trump-Xi summit, declaring that Iran’s primary export terminal at Kharg Island has reached 100% storage capacity. No oil loadings have occurred in the past three days, ships are neither entering nor leaving, and production shutdowns […]
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In a notable development for global energy markets still reeling from disruptions in the Persian Gulf, a Japan-bound crude oil tanker has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, identified as the Eneos Endeavor and owned by Japanese refiner Eneos, is the second Japan-bound tanker to clear the critical chokepoint since U.S. and Israeli […]
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In a sharp escalation near the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, Iran and the United States clashed overnight in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran accusing Washington of targeting an Iranian-flagged oil tanker and then launching missile, drone, and small-boat attacks on three US Navy destroyers. The incident, which both sides described as defensive, comes […]
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Satellite observations from the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines reveal a notable divergence in upstream gas flaring trends across the Middle East in early 2026. While countries like Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia showed sharp declines in flaring activity amid regional conflict, Iran registered a net increase […]
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In a sharp pivot amid stalled ceasefire efforts, President Donald Trump has canceled a high-profile diplomatic trip to Pakistan by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff. The envoys had been expected to engage in indirect or mediated talks aimed at resolving the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, which has disrupted global energy flows through […]
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In a stark illustration of mounting pressure on Iran’s oil sector amid the U.S. naval blockade of its ports, Tehran has reactivated a 30-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) that had been languishing in retirement off Kharg Island. The vessel, NASHA (IMO 9079107), built in 1996 and capable of holding approximately 2 million barrels of […]
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