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Economy & Business

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright speaks during 2026 CERAWeek by S&P Global energy conference in Houston on March 23, 2026.

US ramps up emergency oil flows as prices swing on Iran strike pause

US Energy Secretary Chis Wright announced Monday that the United States started releasing 1 million to 1.5 million barrels of oil per day last week from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

A general view of Navigator Terminals, an oil storage depot along the River Thames, London, March 10, 2026.

Oil plunges 8% after Trump extends Iran ultimatum

In a Truth Social post, US President Trump said that Washington and Tehran “have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.”

Indian vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrives at Vadinar Port in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat state on March 17, 2026 after Iran allowed it to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy corridor that remains disrupted by the Middle East war.

Iran’s Hormuz choke hold leaves West divided as energy markets reel

Between March 1 and March 19, there were only 114 crossings of the strait, according to analytics firm Kpler — 95% less than prewar traffic.

Excess gas is burned at the oil refinery in Israel's northern city of Haifa late on March 19, 2026.

Analysis

Iran expands energy targets beyond Gulf as Red Sea and East Med come into play

In retaliation for strikes on its energy sector, Tehran's campaign against regional oil and gas infrastructure has intensified and broadened to include Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port and an Israeli refinery in Haifa.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

US weighs easing Iran oil sanctions amid Hormuz crisis: What to know

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives to attend an event in the East Room of the White House, Washington, DC, March 5, 2026.

Analysis

How Iran's strike on Qatar gas field could impact LNG market for years

A picture of Qatar Energy's operating facilities on March 3, 2026 in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

After 35% surge, how far could Gulf disruptions push European gas?

In this aerial view, Storage tanks at Grain LNG importation terminal, operated by National Grid Plc sit near the River Medway in the Thames Estuary on March 12, 2026, in Isle of Grain, England.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Breaking Chains with Blockchain

NFTs get Egyptian women out of debtor's prison

An organization that offers help to poor Egyptian women persecuted by the law has partnered with a creative collective in Dubai to raise donations and awareness, especially outside the country, using non-fungible tokens.

This picture taken on on Feb. 1, 2021 shows a view of the downtown Dubai skyline, with Burj Khalifa, as seen from the Dubai Frame vantage point.

Israel-UAE economic relations grow further with free trade agreement

A variety of economic, cultural and energy-related deals preceded the free trade agreement signed in Dubai today.

Workers on bikes deliver Egyptian traditional Baladi bread.

How interest rate hikes affect Egypt’s economy

The central bank may raise rates further by 100 to 200 basis points in 2022 to be in line with tightening global monetary policies. Yields on T-bills are set to rise.

Egyptian men work in a bakery at a market in Cairo, Egypt, March 17, 2022.

Egypt to receive wheat shipments from Ukraine by rail from Poland

Cairo agreed with Kyiv on four wheat cargoes, which will reach Egypt by rail to Poland, raising hopes of restoring food security.

Barham Salih, prime minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Government, speaks during a conference of Kurdistan-Iraq Oil and Gas forum, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, Nov. 13, 2011.

Dispute over Iraqi Kurdistan's energy resources ramps up

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has announced plans to establish a new oil company for the Kurdistan Region.

An Emirati female trader watches a quotation board from a computer screen at the Abu Dhabi stock exchange, June 7, 2006.

Abu Dhabi special acquisition firm begins trading on stock exchange

The ADC Acquisition Corporation is listed on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange to raise funds for the Emirati sovereign wealth fund ADQ and Abu Dhabi's Chimera Investment.

The Israeli Firkat Alnoor orchestra at the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, May 21, 2022.

Israel seeks to double trade with Egypt

The visit to Egypt of the Israeli Firqat Alnoor Orchestra reflects a clear trend in the past year and a half of cultural, environmental and economic ties warming up between the two countries.

An Egyptian laborer is pictured at Al-Reesa seawater desalination plant in el-Arish city, in the northern Sinai Peninsula, March 20, 2022.

Egypt grants new incentives to foreign investors

The Egyptian government announced the granting of a special license to foreign investments in three specific fields, which expedites procedures to implement projects, as part of efforts to revive the ailing economy in the country.

STEVE PARSONS/AFP via Getty Images

Qataris to receive visa-free access to UK, invest $12.5 billion

Qatar and the United Kingdom have announced they will cooperate on energy projects while Qatar’s energy minister criticized Europe for “demonizing” oil and gas companies.

Iran economy

The economics of social unrest in Iran

While the protests themselves are unsurprising, given the economic crises plaguing the country, the fact that they were centered in the southwestern province of Khuzestan is significant.

A general view of the Egyptian Exchange, Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 7, 2022.

Egypt to sell state-owned firms amid economic crisis

Ten of Egypt's largest state-owned companies will be listed this year on the stock exchange, while others will be sold in the coming years as the government tries to attract foreign investors to relieve economic hardships.

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company announces IPO price for Borouge

The joint venture between ADNOC and the Austrian energy company Borealis will soon be listed on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange.

United Arab Emirates