Central Asia & Caucasus Data

On March 19, Ras Laffan, the largest liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal in the world, supplying one-fifth of the world’s super-chilled fuel, was hit by Iranian missiles and drones. The Qatari terminal suffered substantial damage in the strikes – fires were raging across the gas-to-liquids facility within the complex, which covers 295 square kilometers – The post Qatar gas terminal bombing will push prices higher for years appeared first on Asia Times.

In the second week of the Iran war – with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, cutting off shipping of 20% of the world’s oil supply – the International Energy Agency announced the largest release of strategic oil reserves in history. Thirty-two countries will sell a combined 412 million barrels from their reserves into the The post 412 million barrels will soon flood oil markets — will it matter? appeared first on Asia Times.

Emerging reports of Russian intelligence support to Iran in its war with the US and Israel are raising critical questions about the scope, credibility and strategic implications of deepening Russia–Iran military cooperation. This month, reports citing US officials and sources familiar with intelligence assessments say Russia has provided Iran with targeting data on US troops, The post ‘Operation Hidden Hand’: Iran-Russia military axis comes into view appeared first on Asia Times.

There is a particular frustration that comes with being a Cassandra in Washington. You spend three decades writing books titled “Quagmire” and “Sandstorm”, you warn in magazine after magazine, op-ed after op-ed, that America’s compulsive entanglement in Middle Eastern politics would one day produce a catastrophe of its own making — and then you watch, in real time, The post America’s Iran quagmire and the failure of strategic memory appeared first on Asia Times.