Yesar Al-Maleki يَسار

Read my latest: 🔴Middle East Economic Survey - MEES: mees.com/author/yesar-al-mal… 🔴Muckrack: muckrack.com/yesar-al-maleki

I told @AsharqBusiness earlier this morning that #oil futures have become more volatile at the start of this week as traders assess the possibility of #US strikes on #Iran, either before or after the 3 November US midterm elections. Hopes for de-escalation and a negotiated deal were revived after regional officials from #SaudiArabia, #Pakistan, and #Turkey visited Tehran. However, strengthened US military presence in the region and the recent uptick in Iranian attacks on shipping in the Gulf point to a high risk of renewed hostilities. After the elections, President Trump may face less pressure from the immediate political cost of higher oil prices. #Opec+ members meet on Sunday, but are unlikely to change course. Voluntary cuts have largely been lifted, yet some Gulf producers still haven’t fully used their quotas, despite an uptick in exports and #Hormuz transits. Their immediate focus will shift to finalising the capacity audit, which is expected to set 2027 baselines and quotas. 📺 👇 now.asharq.com/clips/1827580… #OOTT

I told @newlinesmag that #Iraq's #gasoline crisis has been the result of a convergence of many factors: “Because Gulf exports fell, Iraq had to maximise refinery runs throughout the crisis to keep its oil fields producing. Meanwhile, gasoline imports were constrained and limited to suppliers inside the Gulf. Baghdad is also facing a liquidity crisis due to falling #oil revenues, which limits how much gasoline and diesel it can import.” Full article 👉 newlinesmag.com/reportage/ir… For an in-depth analysis of Iraq's gasoline shortages following the #Hormuz closure, see my @MeesEnergy article in late September with a data dive into the country's refining sector 👇 mees.com/2026/9/25/refining-…

I joined @AsharqBusiness yesterday to discuss #US plans to import #diesel cargoes from #Russia. I argued that the earmarked volumes are too small to affect the global diesel supply shortage, and that Russian diesel may not meet US and European standards. The move is largely political, part of ongoing US talks with Russia over the war in #Ukraine and part of Washington's domestic messaging ahead of midterm elections. 📺 👇 now.asharq.com/clips/1826964…

#Iraq 🇮🇶 urgently needs new crude #oil export pipeline capacity to reduce its dependence on the Strait of #Hormuz. However, as Gulf exports recover and cost estimates for the new pipelines balloon, Baghdad may have to scale back its grand pipeline plans. Creating an alternative route to the Gulf remains critical to securing IOC investment in the oil sector, but major oil companies will not commit capital to #infrastructure that #Baghdad views as backup export capacity. My @MeesEnergy analysis with exclusive details on the latest Iraq export pipeline plans and cost estimates 👇 mees.com/2026/10/9/oil-gas/i… #OOTT

I told @arabnews that the #US naval blockade has severely disrupted Iranian #oil flows from the Gulf and is limiting #Iran's ability to replenish supplies for its Chinese customers. Independent refiners in #China are buying Iraqi crude because traders can readily supply it in the Gulf of Oman. #Iraq is also offering steep discounts to buyers willing to risk transiting the Strait of #Hormuz to lift cargoes inside the Gulf. #OOTT 👇 arabnews.com/world/analysis-…

It was a pleasure to participate in the @EI_Forum in London over the past two days. Timely discussions addressed the #energy sector's challenges and the outlook for supply and demand following the #MiddleEast crisis. Speakers placed notable emphasis on the role Gulf producers have played in narrowing the #oil supply gap through #Hormuz bypass pipelines and covert vessel shuttling. Building resilience into existing and future infrastructure is the key takeaway from this crisis.

#Kuwait navigated a challenging summer scarred by #Iran's attacks on its #electricity infrastructure. Conflict-induced industrial shutdowns slightly reduced peak power demand, driving a second consecutive annual decline. Kuwait navigated this summer’s peak electricity demand season without mishap, but mainly because it could import electricity from its GCC neighbours rather than through domestic reform of its subsidy system. Read @MeesEnergy latest 👇 mees.com/2026/9/25/power-wat…

The news that #Iraq has begun importing #gasoline via #Syria comes as the country is suffering from acute fuel shortages, with its reserves running critically low. Disruptions to imports through the Strait of #Hormuz have left Iraq short of gasoline, even as refineries run at maximum capacity. Somo has secured some replacement barrels from within the Gulf and plans to import cargoes through #Jordan and Syria. @MeesEnergy published an in-depth analysis of Iraq's latest gasoline woes 👇#OOTT mees.com/2026/9/25/refining-…