Central Asia & Caucasus Data

A report in the Washington Post the day after the Iran war began suggested that Saudi Arabia and Israel had both lobbied Donald Trump to attack Iran. The Saudis swiftly denied that they had pushed for war. In the days since, as Iran lashed out in retaliation, Saudi Arabia came under attack. An Iranian drone The post Why it’s unlikely that Saudi Arabia wanted the US to bomb Iran appeared first on Asia Times.

When US and Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Iran, the shock waves were felt far beyond the region. As the conflict escalates, understanding who benefits from this crisis might be as important as counting its costs. Peace benefits ordinary citizens, small businesses, global supply chains and the planet’s climate trajectory. The beneficiaries of war are The post Understanding who profits will be key to resolving the Iran war appeared first on Asia Times.

The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. Since the beginning of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, oil tanker traffic through the world’s most critical oil shipping choke point has collapsed, dropping by more than 90%. Iran has threatened to destroy any ships, including oil tankers, that pass The post Shadow tankers: the only ships still moving through Hormuz Strait appeared first on Asia Times.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former fracking executive, was accused on Tuesday of manipulating global markets after he posted a striking claim on social media. The American Navy, he wrote, had “successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing.” The post on X was deleted minutes later, after “oil prices slid at The post US energy chief’s deleted Hormuz X post called market manipulation appeared first on Asia Times.