Why Israel Targeted Iran’s Karun Petrochemical Complex

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When Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets on June 8, 2026, following missile attacks by the Islamic Republic, much of the attention focused on military installations and infrastructure linked to Iran’s security apparatus. Yet among the targets, one facility attracted attention inside Iran: the Karun Petrochemical Complex in the Mahshahr Special Economic Zone in […]

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Iran may get a lifeline, but major obstacles remain

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The agreement between Tehran and Washington holds out the prospect of sanctions relief and potentially unprecedented foreign investment, but many of its economic promises remain uncertain and some may prove difficult to deliver even if negotiations succeed. The relative strengthening of the Iranian rial suggests the agreement has already had a positive psychological impact. The

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Iran Lost $540 Billion in Oil Revenue Since 2012 Sanctions

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Iran forfeited roughly $540 billion in oil export revenue between 2012 and May 2026, the period defined by successive rounds of Western sanctions on its energy sector. That gap works out to $6,000 for every Iranian citizen, or $24,000 for a household of four, equivalent to 1,950 days of work at the minimum wage. An

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Detailed view of Iranian rial banknotes held in hand, illustrating finance and economy in Iran.

Iran’s services imports surge as goods trade slumps

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Iran’s imports of services surged to a record $25.5 billion in 2025 while merchandise imports fell sharply, according to newly released data from the Central Bank of Iran, highlighting a significant shift in the country’s trade structure. Services imports accounted for roughly one-third of Iran’s total imports during the year, an unusually high share for

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Iran’s Capital Flight Has Surged 4.5-Fold in Five Years

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New data released by Iran’s Central Bank show that despite recording a trade surplus of nearly $27 billion in 2025, the country experienced a capital account deficit of roughly the same magnitude. In practical terms, Iran lost around $27 billion through capital flight last year alone—equivalent to approximately 8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. The figure

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Did the War Cause Iran’s Gas Deficit to Double?

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Iranian Vice President says damage to the country’s gas infrastructure during the 39-day war has more than doubled Iran’s gas deficit. Esmail Saqqab Esfahani said that during the recent war, the country’s gas infrastructure suffered a loss of 55 billion cubic meters, reducing annual production from 297 bcm to 242 bcm annually. According to him,

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Major Disruptions Hit China’s Trade with Gulf Arab States

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Author: Dalga Khatinoglu/The Islamic Republic of Iran’s disruption of oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has not only triggered a surge in oil prices and reduced China’s crude oil imports, but has also severely affected Beijing’s non-oil trade with Arab Gulf countries.China is the largest trading partner of the member states of the

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Iran’s Oil Production and Exports Enter a Steep Decline

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New shipping and energy market data indicate that Iran’s oil sector is facing its most severe disruption in years. Not only has the transit of Iranian crude through regional waters effectively come to a halt over the past six weeks, but China—the Islamic Republic’s sole major oil customer—also has steadily reduced its purchases of Iranian

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Iran’s Onshore Oil Storage Tops 70 Percent as Blockade Halts Exports

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Iran has started reducing oil output as onshore storage tanks approach capacity following a month-long US naval blockade that has nearly halted exports, according to data from Kpler and Bloomberg. More than 70 percent of the country’s onshore tanks are now filled. An Iran Open Data analysis of Kpler shipping data, Bloomberg reporting, and OPEC

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China’s Iran balancing act grows more costly

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China is showing growing unease over the economic and strategic costs of Iran’s confrontation with the United States, even as it continues to shield Tehran diplomatically at the United Nations. US President Donald Trump said during his recent visit to Beijing that Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz

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