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War has imposed a heavy cost on Iran’s economy – more than a million people jobless, skyrocketing food prices, increasingly worthless currency and a prolonged internet shutdown that has crippled online businesses. The question is how much more pain Iran’s leaders, whoever are in charge now, are willing to tolerate as they try to negotiate […]
... written on Apr 30 2026In a stunning and shocking strategic move, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC+ effective May 1, 2026. The third-largest producer in OPEC behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq, the tiny kingdom joined OPEC in 1967, seven years after the organization was founded. While […]
... written on Apr 29 2026As Iran started its bold game of cat and mouse with the United States, the MV Touska became the first casualty after the Iranian cargo ship tried – and failed – to breach the U.S. blockade. The U.S. made good on its threat to board and seize any vessel defying its blockade of Iran’s ports […]
... written on Apr 20 2026Some 20 ships lining up to cross the Strait of Hormuz were waiting anxiously and desperately to get out of the “strait of hell”, as some crews called it. The vessels had been waiting to enter the Persian Gulf via the Iran-controlled northern Larak corridor, and had agreed to pay Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps […]
... written on Apr 18 2026Fuel shortage, including subsidized RON95 petrol and unsubsidized diesel, has begun despite denial by the deputy minister of domestic trade and cost of living, Fuziah Salleh. An increasing number of stations, especially Shell, have put up signs that read ”Under Repair” to their pumps. There were cases where 8 out of 10 pumps were “out […]
... written on Apr 16 2026Starting Monday (April 13), 10 a.m. Eastern Time, the U.S. military would block maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports, a move that would prevent roughly two million barrels of Iranian oil a day from entering the world’s markets. While that would obviously further tighten global supply, the strategic move would also hit Iran where […]
... written on Apr 14 2026Vice President JD Vance flew back to the U.S. early Sunday after peace talks with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan collapsed. It was not even a negotiation as demands from both sides were simply too outrageous to each other. Nevertheless, the talks were a long shot. U.S. President Donald Trump himself played down the importance of the peace […]
... written on Apr 12 2026After our article suggesting Anwar Ibrahim should call Iran for a safe and free passage over the vital Strait of Hormuz rather than barking non-stop like a mad dog about RON95 and fuel subsidies, the prime minister finally made the call on March 26. A few days later, the Malaysian leader began his usual gloating […]
... written on Apr 10 2026Never interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake – said Napoleon Bonaparte. It’s unclear if he had actually learned and adapted the military strategy from Sun Tzu, a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer born in 544 BC. The quote means when an opponent is acting recklessly or making poor decisions, you should […]
... written on Apr 09 2026After four weeks of war, it is obvious that the U.S. and Israel have enjoyed extraordinary military success in eliminating much of Iran’s leadership and military capabilities. However, Iran’s regime has succeeded at a political (at least rhetorical) and economic level – first by simply surviving the onslaught and second by exercising its stranglehold on […]
... written on Apr 01 2026
