Energy & Economics

Policy Analysis on Energy & Economics

Implementing the Iran Nuclear Deal: A Video Guide

What will the implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement mean for Iran and the United States?

Jan 15, 2016

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Katherine Bauer
Matthew Levitt
Patrick Clawson

Articles & Testimony

U.S. Sanctions Delay Could Open Door for Iranian Weapons Violations

By backing off sanctions over Iran's ballistic missile test, the Obama administration has left the impression that, contrary to its repeated pledges, it may not enforce current sanctions or impose new ones should Tehran violate UN Security Council resolutions.

Jan 1, 2016

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Sanctions Relief Is Not the Key to Iran's Economy

Rouhani's election pledge to improve the economy by resolving the nuclear issue is not working particularly well because of the many domestic policy challenges.

Dec 23, 2015

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Patrick Clawson

Articles & Testimony

The Islamic State Is Financially Self-Sufficient

The Institute's Fromer-Wexler Fellow contributes to a BBC roundtable on the question 'Is Saudi Arabia to blame for the Islamic State?'

Dec 19, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Two Steps to Crack Down on Islamic State Financing Options

The finance ministers gathering at the UN this week should focus on taking actionable steps against the Islamic State's backdoor funding schemes, some of which involve continued access to the international banking system.

Dec 17, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Algeria's Next Succession: Preparing for a Post-Bouteflika World

Although Algerians are lukewarm to the prospect of a managed succession, they are even less willing to believe that true multiparty democracy could flourish in the current environment.

Dec 15, 2015

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Vish Sakthivel

Brief Analysis

The Costs of Russia's Air Expeditionary Campaign

The air campaign in Syria, Russia's first expeditionary force deployment in decades, comes with numerous challenges and a growing price tag.

Dec 11, 2015

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Lt Col John R. Barnett

Articles & Testimony

On Iran Sanctions, Mixed News -- and Warnings for Potential Investors

U.S. Treasury officials will no doubt remind their European hosts this week about the need to continue countering Iranian terror financing, but some officials and businesses may not want to hear the message.

Dec 9, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Israel's Gulf Breakthrough

A new Israeli diplomatic office in the UAE is a rare public indication of a broader trend.

Nov 30, 2015

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Russia Will Want to Make Turkey Pay

For now, Moscow's retaliation will most likely come against Turkish commercial exports or gas imports, but continued Russian operations near the border mean that a dangerous military escalation is still possible.

Nov 27, 2015

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Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

Sophisticated Finances That Could Trip Up ISIS

Restricting the group's access to banks has forced it to use riskier methods of moving money, but it still draws major revenue from extortion and other sources.

Nov 22, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Putin Visits Iran

To reap the benefits and avert the dangers of Moscow's latest developments with Iran, Washington and Europe should adopt a strategy that allows them to cooperate on Syria and antiterrorism efforts, while continuing pressure on issues such as the Ukraine conflict and S-300 deliveries to Tehran.

Nov 20, 2015

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Brenda Shaffer

Articles & Testimony

How Do ISIS Terrorists Finance Their Attacks?

Whether the Paris terrorists were funded by their own activities in Europe or ISIS revenues from Syria and Iraq, the fact remains that small sums of money can facilitate painfully successful attacks, so cutting off the group's finances is no panacea.

Nov 18, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Kerry in Tunis: Bolstering an Arab Democracy Through Strategic Dialogue

At a time of political and economic uncertainty in Tunisia, this week's bilateral talks could offer urgent protection to the lone 'Arab Spring' success story.

Nov 12, 2015

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Sarah Feuer

Brief Analysis

Israel's Leviathan Gas Challenge and the Consequences of Failure

After months of bureaucratic foul-ups, Israel may be close to approving a new regulatory framework to develop its offshore natural gas resources, but another political fumble could have dire economic repercussions.

Oct 27, 2015

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Royal Schism in the House of Saud

Persistent reports of royal disquiet about the role of the king's favored son indicate that a showdown between rival factions may be imminent.

Oct 16, 2015

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Jordan’s Energy Supply Options: The Prospect of Gas Imports from Israel

The kingdom's energy security dilemmas need to be considered in the context of its diverse geopolitical challenges, including external security threats from ISIS and domestic resentment toward Israeli actions in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Oct 12, 2015

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Iran's Post-Deal Economic Stagnation Challenges Rouhani

The Iranian president has taken steps to limit his vulnerability to a plodding recovery, but over time a failure of sanctions relief to bring about dramatic economic improvements could harm his political outlook.

Oct 8, 2015

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Patrick Clawson

Articles & Testimony

Russia Pursues a New Baghdad Pact

Putin's latest Middle Eastern moves are aimed not so much at expanding his front line of tensions with the West, but rather at making a deal by proving that he has acquired a lot of cards in the region.

Oct 8, 2015

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Ehud Yaari

Brief Analysis

Putin's Syria Adventure Is an Opportunity for Washington and Ankara

The bold military gamble in Syria surprised and confused the international community, but Putin has given the United States and Turkey a reason to more assertively counter Russia's ambitions in its own backyard.

Oct 6, 2015

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Lt Col John R. Barnett

Supported by the

Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy

The Washington Institute's Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy embodies the Institute's long-term research focus on the conservative Arab Gulf states -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman -- and the key role these countries play collectively as a primary source of the world's oil and natural gas.

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Featured experts

Patrick Clawson

Patrick Clawson is the Morningstar Senior Fellow and Research Counselor at The Washington Institute.

Simon Henderson

Simon Henderson is the Baker Senior Fellow and director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at The Washington Institute, specializing in energy matters and the conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf.