Why the Real Story Behind the UAE’s OPEC Exit is Petrodollar Diplomacy With Emirati energy infrastructure taking hits from the Iran war, Treasury Secretary Bessent tries to stave off the ‘petroyuan’ era. Barchart · Apr 28
Qatar warns Iran it will not be used as 'political punching bag' Qatar warned Iran on Tuesday it will not be used as a “political punching bag,” calling for a "comprehensive deal" that would secure the Gulf. In response to Euronews, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said "we applaud our partners in Europe for taking the lead" in the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Euronews · Apr 28
OPEC shocker as UAE leaves oil cartel days after negotiating swap lines with Scott Bessent’s Treasury The petrodollar saga is taking another twist. The long, slow unraveling of the architecture that has governed global finance since 1974 continues. Fortune · Apr 28
Middle East crisis: Trump hits back at German chancellor after Merz said Iran was ‘humiliating’ US – as it happened US president claims Friedrich Merz ‘doesn’t know what he’s talking about’ after German leader criticised US strategy in Iran The Guardian - AU · Apr 28
Tired and worried, seafarers have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for weeks Around 20,000 seafarers on hundreds of vessels are stuck in the Persian Gulf, unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz that remains effectively shut by Iran The Independent UK · Apr 27
El-Sisi warns Middle East faces ‘attempts to redraw map’, calls for Gulf role in any Iran deal The Egyptian president warned that the Middle East is entering a “critical phase”, with attempts to redraw its map, and called for state sovereignty to be respected. Euronews · Apr 26
The war in Iran is in a ‘limbo’ phase. Here’s why it could leave the world facing chaos IN FOCUS: Despite Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi travelling to Pakistan, there are still no plans for direct talks with the US. Should the current impasse continue, analysts tell James C. Reynolds that it could hurt the west and strengthen Tehran The Independent UK · Apr 26
From syringes to stents: Iran war exposes NHS dependency on petrochemicals NHS chiefs fear rising costs and healthcare shortages due to the shipping standstill in the Gulf The Guardian - UK · Apr 26
EU leaders vow to boost security and economic ties with Middle East to minimise effect of Iran war Leaders from Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Jordan as well as the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were in Nicosia to meet their European Union counterparts on the sidelines of an EU summit. Euronews · Apr 24
How a swap line for Persian Gulf allies would break with the past "Many of our Gulf allies have requested swap lines" and seemed receptive to their use, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Axios · Apr 24
Trump promised peace in the Gulf but delivered chaos. Now Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is hijacking ships under his ‘ceasefire’ Iran just seized two more ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and the chaos President Donald Trump promised would never happen is now spiraling out of control. The Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Greek-operated Epaminondas were both stopped by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and towed to shore, marking the first time… The Mary Sue · Apr 23
Study finds toxic benzene emissions along the Texas Gulf Coast are among the highest in the nation Researchers found that state policy and oil refineries’ failure to fix leaks contributed more to high benzene emissions than the size or capacity of the refineries. The Texas Tribune · Apr 23
Fallout from Iran war is ‘major new threat to foreign aid’ There are growing concerns that the economic fallout from the current conflict in the Middle East will push Gulf nations – who collectively provided more humanitarian aid than the US last year – turning away from foreign assistance The Independent UK · Apr 23
Trump issues ‘shoot to kill’ order for boats laying mines in Strait of Hormuz President Donald Trump has also directed the US navy to step-up clearance of the explosive devices from the critical Gulf waterway. Evening Standard · Apr 23
The Independent UK · Apr 23 Oil prices hold above $100 as Iran seizes ships in Strait of Hormuz and peace talks stall Iran seized two container ships seeking to exit the Gulf via the strait on Wednesday, tightening its grip on the waterway
The Independent UK · Apr 22 New study finds 'alarming' high flood risk for 17 million Americans on Atlantic and Gulf coasts One of the most comprehensive studies ever of flood risk has determined that more than 17 million people in eight cities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are at the highest risk of being affected by flooding
Fortune · Apr 22 $75 billion investment chief: Now is exactly the right time to double down in the Gulf Conflict has global investors retreating from the Middle East but confusing volatility with vulnerability is the most expensive mistake right now.
LiveScience · Apr 22 'Iran's Maldives' could drown in oil due to spills from air strikes, satellites show Air strikes on oil facilities and oil tankers in the Persian Gulf have unleashed what is set to become an ecological catastrophe, satellite images show.
Capital & Main · Apr 22 Texas’ Gulf Coast Has a Health Problem: Benzene Emissions Are Among the Highest in the Nation At the worst-performing refineries, report finds operators are not tackling recurring and harmful leaks, leading to public health risk.
International Business Times UK · Apr 22 Donald Trump Abruptly Halts Iran Attack, Claiming Tehran's Government Is 'Seriously Fractured' Donald Trump's last‑minute extension of the Iran ceasefire, framed around a claim that Tehran's government is 'seriously fractured', has left the Gulf crisis paused but far from resolved.
International Business Times UK · Apr 21 Gulf Evacuation Warning: 'Time Is Running Out' as Iran Adviser Urges Immediate Exit From UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait A social media post urging evacuation from Gulf nations has caused concern, despite no official directives. The warning highlights the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Conversation · Apr 21 As the world faces yet another crisis, why are leaders still resisting remote work? At 9pm, shops, restaurants and cafes go dark across the city of Cairo, where a stringent curfew has been imposed to mitigate the energy shock triggered by the conflict in the Gulf. The measure may prove difficult to enforce among people accustomed to long, convivial evenings, but the outlook is…
The Independent UK · Apr 21 Iran claims it has ‘new cards’ to play if war resumes with US and Israel — what are they? Iran may ask the Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another crucial waterway in the Middle East
The Times of India · Apr 21 Kuwaiti actress Hayat Al-Fahad dies at 78: Veteran Gulf screen icon passes away after prolonged illness Kuwaiti actress Hayat Al-Fahad, a pioneering force in Gulf television and theatre, has passed away at 78 after a prolonged illness. Her death marks the end of an era for the region's entertainment industry, where she was a defining cultural voice for over five decades. Al-Fahad's career spanned acting, writing,…
Euronews · Apr 21 Timelapse footage shows maritime traffic around Gulf, Straight of Hormuz The passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz - the world's busiest oil shipping canal - has been severely disrupted amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. Timelapse footage shows maritime traffic in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz from April 18 to April 20, amid a fragile US-Iran truce.