Energy Iranian minister says ‘world needs more of its oil’ Iran’s minister of petroleum Javad Owji said the world needed more Iranian oil, and that his country was ready to play a role in providing it away from politics, the Iranian oil ministry’s news agency SHANA reported on Monday. In a statement issued after an OPEC+ meeting in which a minor cut was agreed, Owji […] September 6, 2022
Economy UAE says envoy to return to Iran in coming days The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Sunday that its ambassador to Iran, Saif Mohammed Al Zaabi, would return to Tehran “in coming days”, more than six years after the Gulf Arab state downgraded ties with the Islamic Republic. The move is in line with UAE efforts to strengthen relations with Iran “to achieve the […] August 22, 2022
Opinion Iran nuclear deal Riyadh offers wary support for revived Iranian nuclear deal Saudi views Iran’s nuclear programme with concern, but remains worried any revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action won't contain Iran's missile programme or its support for militias August 18, 2022
Banking & Finance Iran makes first import order using cryptocurrency Iran made its first official import order using cryptocurrency this week, the semi-official Tasnim agency reported on Tuesday, a move that could enable the Islamic Republic to circumvent US sanctions that have crippled the economy. The order, worth $10 million, was a first step towards allowing the country to trade through digital assets that bypass […] August 10, 2022
Energy EU puts forward new draft text to revive Iran nuclear deal The European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Tuesday he has proposed a new draft text to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, saying there is no room left for further major compromises. “I have now put on the table a text that addresses, in precise detail, the sanctions lifting as well as the nuclear […] July 27, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East ‘Could do better’: the experts’ verdict on Biden in Middle East Did the US president achieve his objectives on his tour of the Middle East? AGBI asked seven analysts to give Biden marks out of 10 President Joe Biden hoped to usher in a new era in Washington’s relationship with the Middle East during his whistlestop tour last week – seeking to reinforce America’s commitment to […] July 19, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden boosts relations but fails to move the dial The president hoped to reset Washington’s relationship with the Middle East last weekend. In this in-depth analysis, AGBI explores how he performed on Israel, Iran, human rights and oil President Joe Biden’s whirlwind tour of the Middle East sought to reinforce America’s commitment to the region after several years of disengagement. In a speech to […] July 19, 2022
Iran nuclear deal Iran sanctions 61 more Americans as nuclear talks hit impasse Iran has imposed sanctions on 61 more Americans, including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, for backing an Iranian dissident group. Months of talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal remained at an impasse despite president Joe Biden’s trip to the Middle East, which ended yesterday. Others blacklisted by Iran’s Foreign Ministry for voicing support […] July 17, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden’s ‘Jerusalem Declaration’ could slash UAE-Iran trade The US and Israel pledged today to deny Iran nuclear weapons – a move that could dissuade global trade partners from dealing with Tehran, experts have said. The freshly united stance from US president Joe Biden and Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid represents a rare show of unity by allies long divided over Iran diplomacy. The […] July 14, 2022
Biden Middle East US and Israel sign pledge to deny Iran nuclear weapons US president Joe Biden and Israel’s prime minister Yair Lapid today signed a joint pledge to deny Iran nuclear weapons, closing ranks on Tehran. A senior Biden administration official said the agreement will expand on the long-standing security relationship between the United States and Israel. “This declaration is pretty significant, and it includes a commitment […] July 14, 2022
Economy Iran says it and Saudi Arabia interested in more talks Iran and Saudi Arabia are interested in holding more talks, Tehran’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, three months after a fifth round of contacts aimed at restoring relations between the Middle East’s two main rival powers. Tehran gave an update on the status of the talks as US President Joe Biden landed in Israel in […] July 14, 2022
Energy UAE firms sanctioned in Iranian oil shipment crackdown The United States has imposed sanctions on four United Arab Emirates-based companies accused of being part of an international network engaged in the illicit sale and shipment of petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemical products from Iranian firms to China and elsewhere in East Asia. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control […] July 7, 2022
Energy Iran, US hold nuclear talks with EU in separate Doha hotel rooms Indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington started on Tuesday in Doha, Iranian state media reported, as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator met with European Union envoy Enrique Mora, who will shuttle between the American and Iranian sides. Based in separate rooms in a hotel in Qatar’s capital, Iran’s Ali Bagheri Kani and US Iran special […] June 29, 2022
Energy Russia’s Lavrov visits Iran to discuss nuclear deal Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Iran on Wednesday, Iranian state TV reported, as world powers and Tehran are struggling to revive their 2015 nuclear pact and negotiations are stalled. Russia’s foreign ministry posted a clip of Lavrov’s opening remarks during a meeting with Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi in which he said Moscow was […] June 23, 2022
Energy Iran expanding nuclear work, switches off UN watchdog’s cameras Iran has begun further expanding its underground uranium enrichment and said on Wednesday it would switch off two of the UN nuclear watchdog’s cameras, as the watchdog’s 35-nation board overwhelmingly passed a resolution criticising Tehran. Only Russia and China opposed the resolution submitted by the United States, Germany, France and Britain saying the Board of […] June 9, 2022
Energy UN nuclear watchdog urged to rebuke Iran, draft resolution shows IAEA reported scant progress with Iran on uranium traces Report came after three-month process to revive dialogue West previously held off of sending resolution to Board Iran bristles at such moves, could hurt talks on 2015 deal The United States, France, Britain and Germany are pushing for the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors to […] June 1, 2022
Energy Iran’s energy export revenue soars 60% in last two months Iran’s energy export revenue is 60 percent higher in the first two months of the Iranian year (March 21 to May 21) compared to the same period a year ago, an official from the Iranian oil ministry told the ministry’s SHANA news agency on Sunday. The official did not give a reason for the jump […] June 1, 2022
Energy US seizes Russian ship with Iranian oil cargo The United States has confiscated an Iranian oil cargo held on a Russian-operated ship near Greece and will send the cargo to the United States aboard another vessel, three sources familiar with the matter said. Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, near the coast of the […] May 26, 2022
US lawmakers voice doubts about Biden reaching a deal with Iran The United States said on Wednesday it was ready to tighten sanctions and act with Israel and others to counter the Iranian threat if shaky efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal fail, but lawmakers voiced doubts about both options. “We do not have a deal … and prospects for reaching one are, at […] May 26, 2022
Development Saudi minister: ‘Not enough’ progress made in talks with Iran Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said yesterday that there had been some progress in talks with Iran but “not enough” and that the kingdom’s hands remain outstretched to Tehran. Sunni power Saudi Arabia and Shi’ite Iran, which are locked in proxy conflicts across the Middle East, have held five rounds of talks hosted by Baghdad. “We […] May 25, 2022
Energy Cheap Russian oil gives Iran a China crisis Iran’s crude exports to China have fallen sharply since the start of the Ukraine war as Beijing favoured heavily discounted Russian barrels, leaving almost 40 million barrels of Iranian oil stored on tankers at sea in Asia and seeking buyers. US and European sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 have pushed […] May 19, 2022
Analysis Iran nuclear deal Iran nuclear deal remains in the balance There is little doubt a solution would bring rapid economic gains for Tehran while some other Gulf countries would also benefit from an easing of trade restrictions, but political calculations could yet scupper a deal The diplomatic traffic through Tehran has continued at a steady pace in recent weeks, as intermediaries doggedly try to revive […] May 18, 2022