Blog Archives - CounterStrikeMedia

CHINA GETS WAVIER ON IRANIAN OIL FROM TRUMP

11/30/2018

Iran and China resume oil trade
Iran announced Wednesday that oil transactions with China are set to proceed next week. The head of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce Asadollah Asgaroladi said Wednesday that the two countries have resolved issues relating to Beijing’s payments for Iranian oil imports by designating a Chinese bank to facilitate the exchanges. The United States has granted China a waiver to temporarily continue Iranian oil imports. Read More

WHAT 50$ BARREL OIL MEANS FOR GLOBAL ECONOMY

11/28/2018

BLOOMBERG

TRUMP HITS THE MULLAH'S WHILE BALANCING GLOBAL OIL SUPPLY

11/25/2018

The Implications of Sanctions for the Iranian Oil Market

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Senior officials in the Trump administration have indicated that the sanctions recently imposed on the Islamic Republic were intended to significantly change its behavior. This declaration is inconsistent with its granting of an exemption to the eight countries – particularly China and India – that make up the bulk of Iranian oil exports. The administration’s decision reflects, among other things, the desire to avoid a shake-up in global oil prices and a pragmatic approach that allows room for maneuver for countries that are not ready to immediately halt their purchases of Iranian oil. However, the decision is being interpreted by Tehran as a sign of weakness and an achievement for Iranian foreign policy.
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Russian banks are finding ways to cope with Western sanctions, as a renewed focus on retail banking and greater reliance on state-backed investments fuels a profit boom. Andrey Kostin, chief executive of state-owned VTB, says Russian banks are being forced to rely on funding and projects from the state to maintain revenue streams in the face of the measures. – Wall Street Journal

"EU still struggling with payment system to bypass Iran sanctions," Behnam Ben Taleblu, Axios

US seeks edge in oil market with Iran sanctions
BY MAHMOUD PARGOO
Washington's punitive measures, officially aimed at changing Tehran's behavior but more likely geared toward regime change, may achieve an even simpler objective – decongesting the global petroleum market

WINNERS, LOSERS WITH HIGHER OIL PRICES & HOW TEXAS SLAUGHTERS OPEC

11/18/2018

IISS

BLOOMBERG

HOW TO UNDERSTAND TODAY'S OIL MARKET, LATE 2018

11/15/2018

MARKET WATCH

Russia balks at Saudi efforts to slash oil supply
Russia seeks to avoid OPEC oil production cuts sought by Saudi Arabia and other members of the oil cartel, Reuters reported Thursday. The Saudis are concerned about the fall in oil prices as a result of decreased demand and high supply. Russian President Vladimir Putin dodged questions on whether OPEC should limit supply, but said he had discussed the situation with US President Donald Trump. Trump wants OPEC to keep the oil flowing following the resumption of energy sanctions on Iran. Saudi Arabia increased its oil supply following the sanctions but does not wish to make the increase permanent. Read More

SAUDI'S WANT OUT OF OPEC & THEIR CUTTING CAPACITY FAST

11/10/2018

saudi_arabia_opec’s_anchor_ponders_a_future_without_the_cartel_-_wsj.pdf
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Saudi Arabia seeks 1 million bpd cut in oil production
BY ALISON TAHMIZIAN MEUSE
The call came after the US surprised its ally by granting 'temporary' sanctions waivers to eight countries, allowing them to continue importing Iranian oil

HOOVER KICKS OFF GLOBAL ENERGY FORUM

11/9/2018

World Leaders Come Together For Inaugural Global Energy Forum
quoting Condoleezza Rice, George P. Shultz via The Stanford Daily
Bill Gates, Condoleezza Rice, Jerry Brown. CEOs, politicians, representatives and scientists. World leaders convened Thursday and Friday at the Hoover Institution for the inaugural Global Energy Forum to discuss the future of energy worldwide as the field continues to undergo major changes.

GEOPOLITICS OF SOUTHWEST ASIAN ECONOMIES

11/7/2018

Pakistan in the middle of Saudi, Iran and rival pipeline plans
BY PEPE ESCOBAR
As US sanctions on Iran come into force, the government of Imran Khan is carefully negotiating its position with neighbors and regional powers, each with their favored pipeline plans

Imran Khan’s China visit sees unrealistic expectations fail

THE GULF REGIONS FUTURE BEYOND OIL AND GAS

11/7/2018

The Gulf region’s future: Beyond oil and gas
Karen E. Young | Internationale Politik
Economic diversification has been a goal of all six Gulf Cooperation Council states for over a decade. The realization that the state can’t do everything is now central to government efforts at fiscal consolidation and planning for the future. But the old ways are not entirely in the past.

Ahmad Majidyar writes: While the new sanctions are even broader in scope than those imposed on Iran during the Obama administration, there is a lack of international support to enforce the U.S. sanctions to their fullest potential. The Islamic Republic will most likely continue to defy U.S. pressure, in the hope that it can weather the impact of sanctions and outlast the Trump presidency. – Middle East Institute

Firas Elias writes: The powerful interconnections between Iran’s different media and intelligence agencies has been weaponized by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei who is engaged in an ongoing publicity war with the outside world: the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance provides the lexicon for speeches and revolutionary discourse, then the media disseminates this material in the form of news and media content, and finally, the Ministry of Intelligence mobilizes the material and social resources in order to bring this effort full circle. – Washington Institute