From the shadows to supreme power: why Iran chose Ahmad Vahidi to lead its confrontation with the United States

Image
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Who Is Ahmad Vahidi? The Secretive IRGC Commander now shaping Iran's confrontation with the United States From the founding of the Quds Force to commanding the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi's rise signals a new era in Iran's military-led decision-making. As Tehran braces for a prolonged confrontation with Washington, one of Iran's most secretive and hardline military figures has emerged at the center of power—signaling a dramatic shift in how the Islamic Republic intends to wage its geopolitical struggle. Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Explore the rise of Iran's IRGC commander and how his growing influence could reshape Tehran's strategy toward the United States and the Middle East. For decades, Ahmad Vahidi remained largely behind the scenes, shaping Iran's military doctrine and regional strategy away from the public spotlight. Today, however, he stands at the heart of Iran's national security apparatus, overs...
Post a Comment

Basrah Oil Defies Global Rally: Why Iraqi Crude Is Falling While Markets Surge

Sulaimanyah, Kurdish Policy Analysis --Despite rising global benchmarks, Iraq’s Basrah crude slips again—raising fresh concerns over pricing gaps, regional tensions, and export pressures.

Basrah Heavy crude fell to $109.15 per barrel on Wednesday, dropping more than 2% despite a broader rise in global oil prices driven by escalating geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

Basrah Medium crude also declined in tandem, reflecting pressure on Iraqi export grades even as international benchmarks climbed on supply disruption concerns.

Iraqi crude pricing varies by export destination: shipments to Asia are benchmarked against the average of Dubai and Oman crude, while exports to Europe are linked to Brent, and those to the United States are priced against West Texas Intermediate, each adjusted by market premiums or discounts.

Oil jumps as war risks linger despite ceasefire signals

Oil rose more than 1% on Wednesday, with Brent ‌futures extending gains after a record monthly rise in March, as Middle East volatility kept markets jittery despite reports that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran may be nearing an end.

The front-month Brent contract for June climbed $1.40, or 1.4%, to $105.37 per barrel at 0430 GMT. Brent logged a record monthly gain of 64% ​in March, according to LSEG data that dates back to June 1988.

Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures ​for May rose $1.59, or 1.6%, to $102.97 per barrel.

Prices recovered some of their losses from Tuesday, ⁠when Brent futures for June delivery settled down more than $3 following unconfirmed media reports that Iran's president was ready to ​end the war.

President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. could end the military campaign within two ​to three weeks and that Iran does not have to make a deal to end the conflict, his clearest declaration yet that he wants to wind down the month-long war.

Still, even if the conflict ends, infrastructure damage is likely to keep supplies tight, ​analysts say.

Oil prices will depend on how quickly supply chains normalize afterwards, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market ​analyst at Phillip Nova.

"Even if it starts to de-escalate, the flow of tankers won't resume right away. shipping costs and ‌insurance, tanker ⁠movement will take time to return to normal," Sachdeva said, adding that the actual damage to oil infrastructure could only be assessed afterwards.

Trump has indicated he could end the war before reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade flows, according to ​a Wall Street Journal report.

"Even ​with diplomatic channels reportedly ⁠still active and intermittent comments from the U.S. administration predicting a short end to the conflict, the combination of limited tangible diplomatic progress, continued maritime attacks ​and explicit threats against energy assets keeps supply risks skewed to the upside," ​LSEG analysts ⁠said in a note.

OPEC oil output dropped 7.3 million barrels per day in March compared with the previous month, a Reuters survey showed on Tuesday, illustrating the impact of forced export cuts because of the closure of the strait.

Meanwhile, U.S. crude ⁠oil ​output fell by the most in two years in January following ​a severe winter storm that knocked production offline in large swathes of the country, data from the Energy Information Administration showed on ​Tuesday.

#IraqOil #BasrahCrude #OilPrices #EnergyCrisis #GlobalMarkets #MiddleEast #OilNews #Geopolitics #OPEC #BreakingNews

  

#IraqOil #BasrahCrude #OilPrices #EnergyCrisis #GlobalMarkets #MiddleEast #OilNews #Geopolitics #OPEC #BreakingNews

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lindsey Graham Passing Reshapes Republican Foreign Policy—and Raises Questions for the Kurds

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The sudden death of one of Washington's most influential Republican hawks removes a powerful congressional advocate for Ukraine, Israel, a hardline Iran policy, and Kurdish aspirations in the Middle East. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurds, Ukraine, Israel, and a tougher US policy toward Iran. Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death Leaves a Strategic Void in Washington WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham , one of the Republican Party's most influential foreign policy voices and one of President Donald Trump's closest congressional allies, has died at the age of 71 following a sudden illness, according to a statement released by his office. His unexpected death comes at a particularly volatile moment in American and Middle Eastern politics. Graham had recently traveled to Ukraine, remained deeply involved in congressional debates over Iran and Israel, and was p...
Read more

Lindsey Graham's Death Leaves a Void in US-Kurdish Relations

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis     The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of the most influential American advocates for the Kurdish people, raising questions about the future of bipartisan support for Kurdistan amid shifting US foreign policy priorities. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurdish people, creating uncertainty for future US-Kurdish relations. The Loss of a Longstanding Friend of Kurdistan The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has prompted an outpouring of tributes not only across Washington but throughout the Kurdistan Region, reflecting the rare position he occupied as one of the most consistent and influential American advocates for Kurdish interests. The Washington Kurdish Institute described Graham as a steadfast supporter whose commitment to the Kurdish people extended beyond political rhetoric, offering condolences to his family while highlighting...
Read more

Can the stateless Nation of Kurdistan help save the Global Order?

Image
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj A new geopolitical analysis argues that Kurdistan's experience of survival, mediation, and pragmatic diplomacy offers unexpected lessons as the international order faces its deepest crisis since World War II. A new geopolitical analysis argues Kurdistan's experience offers vital lessons for rebuilding international order amid the Iran war and global instability. As the World Fragments, Kurdistan Offers an Unexpected Lesson The international system is under unprecedented strain.  Russia's war in Ukraine, escalating tensions between Iran and the West, the paralysis of the United Nations, and growing competition among major powers have raised a fundamental question: Who still defines the rules of international order? According to a new geopolitical analysis by Greg Mills and Basil Gavalas , the answer may not come from Washington, Moscow, Beijing, or Brussels—but from an unlikely place: Iraq's Kurdistan Region . While lacking international r...
Read more