Explainer After UAE and Qatar, could Iraq be next to leave OPEC? Iraq is seeking a higher production quota as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has slashed oil revenues and plunged the country into a fiscal crisis. Iraq
Explainer Syria’s energy push could soon get a major boost from Chevron: What to know The country's leaders are seeking to translate a flurry of oil and gas agreements into concrete investments and rebuild an industry devastated by more than a decade of war, sanctions and isolation. Syria
Oil falls below $74 as Hormuz traffic recovers after Iran war Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, was trading at $73.81 a barrel at 10:40 a.m. EDT, down 4.2% from Tuesday's close. Iran
Explainer Hormuz tolls, frozen funds pose early tests for US-Iran peace progress Early cracks are beginning to show following last week’s US-Iran deal announcement even as both sides move ahead with steps toward ending the four-month conflict. Iran
Syrian Kurds OK US-led oil mission The commander of the Pentagon-backed Syrian Democratic Forces has signed off to help the Donald Trump administration protect the war-torn country’s oil fields, even amid an ongoing Turkish incursion the group has lobbied the United States to stop. Syria
National security officials fear White House reversal on Syria As a residual US troop presence arrives in Syria, some Donald Trump administration officials are worried that the president himself may once again reverse his decision to leave troops in the country. Syria
Saudi financial forum visit pays off for India Riyadh and New Delhi were productive during the Indian prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia last week. Saudi Arabia
Algeria’s hydrocarbon reform adds fuel to protest movement Algeria’s interim government claims to be undertaking economic reforms of the energy sector, but protesters see the effort as an attempt to shore up economic and diplomatic support heading into December presidential elections. Algeria
Draft law on hydrocarbons sparks another quarrel between regime, protest movement in Algeria The Algerian government recently approved a law to regularize the energy sector, which was rejected by protesters. Algeria
Syria looks to revitalize oil production to attract investors Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is tightening the regime's grip on oil fields with an eye toward their eventual rehabilitation. Syria
Pentagon weighs options to deter Russians in Syria After Russian forces in Syria appeared to be heading toward oil fields, the Pentagon proposed deploying tanks as a measure to guard the installations, a US official told Al-Monitor. Iraq
Trump administration scrambles to salvage US troop presence in Syria President Trump says he would leave some US troops in Syria to keep the Assad regime and Iranian forces away from oil fields; the Syrian Democratic Forces commander speaks with both Trump and the Russian army chief of staff. Iraq
Pentagon guardianship of Syrian oil fields faces pushback For days now, despite Turkish forces jeopardizing a fragile US-brokered cease-fire in northern Syria, President Donald Trump has insisted that American forces have secured oil fields liberated from the Islamic State. Syria
Does Egypt really have gas self-sufficiency? Despite the frequent announcements by Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Mulla of achieving self-sufficiency in natural gas and halting imports, in addition to the completion of the phases of operation of Zohr field, Cairo's continued import of Israeli gas stirred confusion. Egypt
Will re-pricing natural gas cast positive shadow over Egypt's industry? The Egyptian government recently decided to amend prices of natural gas used in industries, subject to changes depending on world market prices. Egypt
Going it alone: Saudi Arabia’s economic realities after oil attacks The energy sector is Saudi Arabia's lifeline, but it is more often a honey pot of domestic spending than a resource for future development. Saudi Arabia