Umud Shokri

Articles by this Author
The image of an Iranian rial on cracked asphalt.
Middle East Forum Observer
Is Iran Heading to State Failure?
The Regime May Still Hold the Center, but Holding the Center Is Not the Same as Maintaining State Capacity
March 1, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
A liquified natural gas tanker and tugs sail to the terminal.
Middle East Forum Observer
Will Qatar Maintain Its Liquefied Natural Gas Edge After an Iran War?
Doha Converted Gas Revenue Into Global Influence and Marketed Itself as the Supplier That Delivers Even During Turbulence
February 28, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
Oil drums are marked with the flag of Venezuela.
Middle East Forum Observer
Venezuela’s Return to Oil Markets Enhances Israel’s Energy Security
Changes in One Producer’s Political and Economic Conditions Can Ripple Across Global Energy Markets
February 17, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
An Iranian banknote with a portrait of Ruhollah Khomeini and a gold model of an oil pump.
Middle East Forum Observer
As China’s Teapot Refiners Turn Toward Iranian Oil, Sanctions’ Effectiveness Suffers
Importers Benefit, but Transparency Suffers, and Price Gaps Widen with the Spread of Cheap Sanctioned Oil
February 10, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
A natural gas drilling rig with the flag of Iran in the background.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iran’s Gas Wealth and the Limits of Export Capacity
The Gap Between Potential and Performance Does Not Stem from Sanctions Alone
February 3, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
Despite aggressive sanctions expansion since 2018, Iran’s crude production has stabilized in 2026.
Middle East Forum Observer
Why ‘Maximum Pressure’ Hasn’t Crippled Iran’s Oil Sector
Iran’s Sanctions-Evasion Infrastructure Has Become Systematic Rather than Improvised
January 28, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
An oilfield in Syria.
Middle East Forum Observer
Syria’s Energy Sector Faces Structural, Not Symbolic, Barriers
Syria Holds an Estimated 2.5 Billion Barrels of Oil and 8.5 Trillion Cubic Feet of Gas but Reserves Do Not Guarantee Recovery
January 21, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
The Islamic Republic's internet shutdown of 2026 is different from those imposed during past protests.
Middle East Forum Observer
How Iran Augmented Its Internet Shutdown Strategy in 2026
Unlike in the Past, This Time the Regime Did Not Sever Access but Instead Degraded Internet Function
January 17, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
A view of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey, in July 2025.
Middle East Forum Observer
Why Isn’t Turkey Supporting the Iranian Protestors?
Turkish President Erdoğan’s Long-Standing Message Is That Mass Protests Invite Chaos, Foreign Plots, and State Collapse
January 15, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
Labor fragmentation, economic insulation, and securitization explain why Iran’s oil workers have not struck.
Middle East Forum Observer
Why Iran’s Oil Workers Have Not Struck
A Fragmented Labor Force, Strict Security, and Other Factors Constrain Workers from Mobilizing, Not Apathy or Ignorance
January 11, 2026
 · 
Umud Shokri
A Bedouin with his camels on a wind farm in the Jordan desert.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Year in Review: Energy in the Middle East
Across the Region, Electricity Demand Surged with Extreme Heat, Population Growth, Desalination Needs, and Industrial Expansion
December 25, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
The flag of Pakistan covers an oil and gas pipeline.
Middle East Forum Observer
What Turkey’s Moves in Pakistan Reveal About Regional Strategy
With Energy Diplomacy, Ankara Strengthens a Partnership That Stretches Across Military, Cultural, and Now Economic Dimensions
December 11, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
A Lukoil supply truck fills tanks in a petrol station.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Lukoil-West Qurna-2 Case Exposes Iraq’s Strategic Vulnerabilities
The Project That Once Balanced Russian Expertise with Iraqi Sovereignty Now Exposes the Fragility of This Set-up
November 16, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
Crystals of the rare-earth metal gadolinium, which is used in MRI scans.
Middle East Forum Observer
Can Turkey Become a Rare Earth Element Power?
Independent Certification of Reserves and Scaled-up Processing Would Elevate Turkey’s Role in Global Supply Chains of Critical Minerals
October 23, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
A liquified natural gas tanker anchored off the port city of Nakhodka, Russia.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iran Risks Its Energy Sovereignty amid Growing Russian Influence
Moscow Desires Lasting Influence on Iran’s Energy Industry by Funding the Construction of Its Pipeline Network
September 14, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
Corruption, sanctions, and poor management have led to energy shortages and disruptions to public services in Iran.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Iran Prosperity Project’s Energy Goals Amid Constraints and Risks
The Energy Plan Aims High but Will Falter Due to Iran’s Complexity, Corruption, and Inefficiency
September 5, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
A NASA image shows the global communication network for the exchange of information by the internet and connected satellites for finance, cryptocurrency, or Internet of Things technology.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Narrowband Communications and Security Implications of Iran’s Space Drive
Intelligence Agencies Warn That the Technology Could Accelerate Development of Ballistic Missiles Capable of Carrying Nuclear Warheads
August 28, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
The international Financial Action Task Force blacklisted Iran for its funding of terrorist groups and its opaque financial dealings.
Middle East Forum Observer
Will Iran Get off the Financial Action Task Force’s Blacklist in 2025?
Continued Blacklisting and Enhanced Sanctions Would Hinder Iran’s Trade Contacts, Foreign Investment, and Access to Financial Institutions
August 16, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
The Shiraz power station in Iran.
Middle East Forum Observer
Can Iran Forestall a Domestic Energy Collapse?
The Government Is Reducing Fuel Quotas and Is Considering Digital Fuel Cards, Tiered Pricing, and Energy Coupons
July 10, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
Iran is talking with China about purchasing Chengdu J-10CE fighter jets instead of Russian Su-35s.
Middle East Forum Observer
Will Iran Choose China over Russia to Upgrade Its Air Force?
Russian Delays and Sanctions May Steer Iran Toward China and Start a Military Relationship That Lasts Decades
June 27, 2025
 · 
Umud Shokri
Load More