The Smoke And Mirrors Surrounding U.S.-Iran Relations

The Smoke And Mirrors Surrounding U.S.-Iran Relations | OilPrice.com

The Smoke And Mirrors Surrounding U.S.-Iran Relations By
Editorial Dept- Sep 29, 2023, 8:00 AM CDT

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict

The smoke and mirrors surrounding developments in U.S.-Iran relations continued this week, with Israeli media insisting the Iranian leaders have agreed to direct nuclear talks with the U.S., and with the U.S. denying any secret talks are ongoing. In the meantime, the U.S. has slapped more sanctions on entities and individuals based in China, Turkey, the UAE, and Iran for their role in supporting Iran’s attack drone program being used by Russia against Ukraine.

The above-mentioned sanctions come amid Ukraine’s stepped-up deployment of drones against Russia (including in the Black Sea and in Russian cities), which has prompted Moscow to adapt its electronic warfare capabilities, according to the Jamestown Foundation. Russia has now increased production of its own combat drones and is also using Iranian-made drones while, at the same time, there has been chatter of Iran setting up a drone manufacturing outfit in Belarus on Russia’s behalf. This is primarily drone warfare now, though NATO said this week that Ukraine was gaining ground in its counteroffensive.

Discovery & Development

Iraq has plans to end its contract with KOGAS for developing the Akkas gas field, instead intending to enter into a new contract with a Ukranian company. The contract with KOGAS was signed over a decade ago, but the project has been stalled. Iraq hopes the gas field will produce 400 million cf/d, and is thought to hold…