Middle East – European Neighbourhood Monitor

“Iran and Iraq Reach Deal to Allow Iraqi Oil Through Strait of Hormuz”

Baghdad and Tehran appear to have reached an agreement allowing Iraqi oil shipments to resume transit through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to statements attributed to Iraqi and Iranian officials on Monday. The reported arrangement would grant Iraqi tankers a form of exemption from restrictions Iran has imposed on maritime traffic in the […]

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Reported Drone Strike on Oil Tanker in Dubai Raises Concerns Over Gulf Energy Security

Middle East / ENM

Unverified reports circulating on social media have described a drone strike on a large oil tanker in the port of Dubai, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of energy infrastructure in the Gulf region amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Claims and available information According to posts published on X (formerly Twitter) by analyst Francesco Sassi, a

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Turkey Is Determined to Stay Out of the Iran War

Middle East / ENM

Turkey has multiple reasons to be wary of the escalating conflict in Iran: the potential refugee crisis, disruptions to oil and gas supplies, impacts on trade, and losses in tourism. Above all, Ankara prefers to stay out of the fighting and maintain a role as a neutral mediator. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made this

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U.S. Signals Military Deployment Toward Iran Amid Regional Tensions

Middle East / ENM

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States is deploying naval forces toward Iran, describing the movement as an “armada” while suggesting that the deployment may serve as a deterrent rather than a prelude to immediate action. Speaking to reporters while returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump stated that although

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Israel approves expansion of Leviathan gas production for exports to Egypt

Middle East / ENM

The Israeli government has approved a plan to expand natural gas production at the Leviathan field in the eastern Mediterranean, enabling a significant increase in gas exports to Egypt over the coming decades. Leviathan, Israel’s largest offshore gas field, is operated by a consortium led by Chevron, alongside NewMed Energy and Ratio Energies. The newly

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Tehran Faces Severe Water Emergency as Drought Deepens and Rationing Looms

Middle East / ENM

Satellite analysis from CSIS indicates that Tehran’s already severe water shortages are worsening at an accelerated pace. President Masoud Pezeshkian issued one of the strongest warnings yet, stating that if meaningful rainfall does not arrive within the next month, Tehran will have to impose water rationing—and, in the most extreme scenario, consider evacuating parts of

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U.S. and Qatar Warn EU Over CSDDD

Middle East / ENM

In a rare show of alignment, the United States and Qatar have jointly warned the European Union that its proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) could pose an “existential threat” to global energy affordability and security. The two nations argue that the EU’s plan to impose extraterritorial fines for non-compliance with environmental and human

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Nusuk, the app with 40 million users

Middle East / ENM

– Guest post by Seleman Yusuph Kitenge – Just a year ago, Nusuk had around 12 million users. Today, that number has soared past 40 million, connecting people from 190 countries who are using the platform to plan and experience their pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. But this isn’t just about numbers—it’s about real people whose

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Tensions in Yemen on the rise

Middle East / ENM

According to Israeli officials cited by The Times of Israel, an airstrike conducted late last week in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a was aimed at Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, the Chief of Staff of the Houthi military. The Israeli military has not confirmed the outcome of the operation, but officials claim the strike coincided with

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EU Sidelined as Iran-Israel Peace Deal Unfolds Without European Input

Middle East / ENM

A surprise ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel, announced late Sunday, appears to have been brokered primarily through U.S.-led diplomacy—without direct involvement from the European Union. The development has drawn attention to the EU’s limited role in the recent escalation and subsequent de-escalation in the region. On the same evening the agreement was revealed, Dutch

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