Abdul El-Sayed defies $60 Million campaign against him, wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Despite massive spending by outside groups and high-profile endorsements for his opponent, Abdul El-Sayed secured a decisive Democratic Senate primary victory and now heads into a closely watched November showdown. Abdul El-Sayed has scored one of the most closely watched political upsets of the 2026 election cycle, defeating Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary despite facing more than $60 million in outside spending , much of it from pro-Israel political groups. The victory marks a significant breakthrough for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and sets up a high-stakes general election contest against Republican Mike Rogers in November. El-Sayed's campaign prevailed even after Stevens received late endorsements from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and influential national Democrats, including Representative James Clyburn . Those endorsements failed to reverse momentum behind El-S...
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Strait of Hormuz traffic collapses to near-zero despite truce hitting Iraq hard

 Hormuz Shipping Collapse Disrupts Global Oil as War Fallout Deepens. Traffic through key oil chokepoint plunges despite truce, hitting Iraq and Gulf exports hard


SULAIMANI, April 11 (Kurdish Policy Analysis)

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed dramatically in April, signaling a deepening disruption to global energy flows despite a temporary truce in the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

New data released by S&P Global indicates that crude oil loading has effectively halted at key Gulf export terminals, including facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

TRAFFIC COLLAPSE

Vessel movement through the strategic waterway has plunged:

  • April 9: Just 12 ships transited the strait
  • Normal average:  135 ships per day

This represents one of the sharpest slowdowns in recent history, effectively paralyzing a corridor that carries nearly 20% of global oil supply.

OIL FLOWS DISRUPTED

The disruption has impacted approximately:

  • 14.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and condensates

Meanwhile, Iranian exports stood at around:

  • 1.38 million bpd, reflecting partial continuity despite the conflict

The Strait has remained largely non-functional since late February, following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which triggered heightened military risks across Gulf waters.

IRAQ HIT HARDEST

Despite earlier exemptions allowing Iraqi tankers to pass, Iraq’s oil sector has suffered a severe contraction:

  • Production: Dropped from ~3.5 million bpd to ~1.3 million bpd
  • Exports: Fell to  800,000 bpd

The sharp decline underscores Iraq’s vulnerability to maritime disruptions, given its heavy reliance on Gulf export routes.

TRUCE FAILS TO RESTORE FLOW

A recently announced two-week truce has so far failed to restore confidence in maritime transit. Shipping firms remain reluctant to resume normal operations amid:

  • Ongoing military risks
  • Uncertainty over enforcement of the ceasefire
  • Lack of clear security guarantees in the Strait

GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS

The continued disruption raises alarm across global energy markets:

  • Supply constraints could push oil prices higher
  • Energy-importing countries face increased vulnerability
  • Strategic reserves may come under pressure if disruption persists

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint where geopolitical conflict translates directly into economic shockwaves.

ANALYSIS

The data suggests that the Strait is not merely under tension—it is operating under de facto closure conditions, even without an official blockade.

While the truce may have paused direct confrontation, it has not restored trust, security, or normal shipping behavior.

As long as military risks remain elevated, the flow of oil through Hormuz will continue to serve as a barometer of regional stability—and a warning signal for the global economy.

#StraitOfHormuz #OilCrisis #Iran #Iraq #EnergyMarkets #Geopolitics #MiddleEast #OilPrices #GlobalEconomy

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