Umud Shokri

Articles by this Author
Iran believes it has won the war by asserting its control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Middle East Forum Observer
Can Iran Really Impose Tolls on Strait of Hormuz Passage?
Tehran Cannot Legally Redefine Freedom of Navigation Through International Waters
June 29, 2026
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Umud Shokri
The company logo on the world headquarters of ConocoPhillips in Houston, Texas.
Middle East Forum Observer
ConocoPhillips and the Remaking of Syria’s Energy Industry
The Company Carries Influence Since It Would Bring a U.S. Major Into a Sector That Washington Has Viewed as Off-Limits
June 23, 2026
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Umud Shokri
A locomotive at the Hejaz Railway station in Wadi Rum, Jordan.
Middle East Forum Observer
Turkey’s Hejaz Railway Revival and the Limits of a Hormuz Alternative
A Revived Line Would Connect Turkish Industry to Arab Markets, Boost North-South Trade, and Complement Other Projects
June 22, 2026
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Umud Shokri
A drilling platform in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Strategic Logic of Azerbaijan’s Absheron Phase 2
New Gas from Absheron Will Not on Its Own Transform Europe’s Energy Balance, but It Will Add Valuable Supply Diversity
June 13, 2026
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Umud Shokri
Iraq's electric grid cannot meet demand and many provinces will face scheduled outages during summer heat.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iraq’s Delayed Gulf Cooperation Council Power Link Deepens Summer Electricity Risks
Baghdad Struggles with Rising Demand, Limited Domestic Generation, and Heavy Dependence on Iran for Fuel Supplies
May 19, 2026
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Umud Shokri
A pedestrian street in Istanbul, Turkey.
Middle East Forum Observer
Turkey’s Inflation Fight Meets the Iran War
The Central Bank Can Raise Rates, but Cannot Produce Cheap Energy, Calm the Persian Gulf, or Fully Repair Public Trust
May 14, 2026
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Umud Shokri
Iraq sends about 93 percent of its crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz, with few backup routes.
Middle East Forum Observer
Is Iraq’s Seven-Day Oil Recovery Claim Realistic?
Restarting Production Requires More than Reopening Valves, Likely Taking Weeks Rather than Days
May 7, 2026
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Umud Shokri
Qatar is a global leader in production of natural gas, with the world's third-largest reserves.
Middle East Forum Observer
Is the Qatar-Turkey Gas Pipeline a Serious Option?
The Pipeline Would Cost Billions of Dollars, Take Years to Build, and Would Cross Multiple Jurisdictions, Not All of Them Reliable
April 30, 2026
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Umud Shokri
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, known as OPEC, is a organization for oil-exporting countries.
Middle East Forum Observer
The United Arab Emirates Exits OPEC and OPEC+
The Decision Sends a Signal That National Priorities Now Outweigh Collective Discipline
April 28, 2026
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Umud Shokri
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in solar power, as this site in Wadi ad-Dawasir shows.
Middle East Forum Observer
How Will the Gulf Arab Economies Change Post-War?
Recovery Will Not Be Simply a Return to the Old Model, Now That Gulf States Are Diversifying Their Energy and Economies
April 22, 2026
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Umud Shokri
Turkey imports much of its energy but has begun to expand domestic gas production and renewable energy sources.
Middle East Forum Observer
Will War Push Turkey’s Fragile Economy over the Edge?
Turkey Imports 90 Percent of Its Energy, Making It One of the Most Exposed Economies Among Major Emerging Markets
April 7, 2026
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Umud Shokri
A petrochemical plant with storage tanks.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Tabriz Strike and Iran’s Economic Resilience
Iran Has Relied on Petrochemicals to Offset Restrictions on Crude Oil Exports
April 1, 2026
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Umud Shokri
Cargo ships line the horizon in the Strait of Hormuz.
Middle East Forum Observer
What Does Iraq’s Force Majeure Declaration Mean for Energy Markets?
Iraq Has Not Reduced Output Due to Policy Decisions or Quotas—It Has Shut Down Production Because It Cannot Export
March 23, 2026
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Umud Shokri
An oil field in Kirkuk, Iraq.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iraq’s Northern Exports Return, but Supply Risks Persist
Disputes Between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region May Limit Demand for Northern Iraqi Crude
March 19, 2026
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Umud Shokri
A QatarEnergy headquarters.
Middle East Forum Observer
Why the Iran-Israel War Matters for the World’s Helium Supply
Helium Is Vital to Semiconductor Manufacturing, Aerospace Industries, and Medical Infrastructure Such as MRI Scanners
March 17, 2026
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Umud Shokri
On March 5, 2026, the U.S. Treasury issued a temporary license to purchase Russian oil to prevent disruptions in global oil markets.
Middle East Forum Observer
India’s Pivot to Russian Crude Amid Middle East Turmoil
By Issuing a Temporary Waiver on Sanctions, the U.S. Acknowledged That Energy Market Stability Sometimes Requires Flexibility
March 13, 2026
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Umud Shokri
The Leviathan gas rig in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Haifa.
Middle East Forum Observer
Israel’s Offshore Gas and the New Maritime Security Frontier
Two Large Gas Fields off the Northern Coast Form a Critical Pillar of Israel’s Energy Security and Economic Stability
March 9, 2026
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Umud Shokri
An overview of Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, in a file photo.
Middle East Forum Observer
With its Attack on Nakhchivan, Iran Sends Message to Azerbaijan and Israel
The Azerbaijani Exclave’s Geography Allows Iran to Demonstrate Military Reach While Minimizing the Risk of Direct Confrontation
March 7, 2026
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Umud Shokri
A liquified natural gas tanker is anchored outside Salamina, Greece.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iran’s Retaliation Disrupts Liquefied Natural Gas Markets, Threatens Global Energy Security
The Strait of Hormuz Carries Roughly 20 Percent of Global Liquefied Natural Gas Trade and a Similar Share of Seaborne Oil
March 6, 2026
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Umud Shokri
An oil platform in the Persian Gulf.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iran’s War on Gulf State Energy Infrastructure Reverberates Beyond Oil and Gas
Even Limited Damage Can Force Shutdowns, Suspend Exports, and Trigger Panic Across Energy Markets
March 3, 2026
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Umud Shokri