Umud Shokri

Articles by this Author
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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Umud Shokri
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