Iran or pump prices: Biden’s thankless choice
The US president may opt to do a JCPOA deal as a lesser evil than expensive gasoline
US president Joe Biden is aware that agreeing sanctions relief with Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme will be unpopular not just with his Republican opponents but also within his own Democratic party. But, according to Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Mena analyst at consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, Biden may “view rising fuel prices as a bigger issue” ahead of November’s US midterms and be prepared to strike a deal to bring Iranian barrels swiftly back to the market to try to relieve upward pressure on oil prices. Iran, which to date has shown little willingness to compromise, now has an opportunity to strike a deal on its own terms, says Soltveldt. “Iranian negotiators will seek
Also in this section
25 April 2024
Some companies with assets in Israel have turned towards Egypt as tensions escalate, but others are holding firm despite rising tensions
24 April 2024
But even planned exploration activity is unlikely to reverse declining output from mature fields
23 April 2024
Cheaper Russian barrels and lower overall crude prices have helped cut key oil consumer’s import bills in election year
22 April 2024
Pursuing three different goals as part of the same package may mean achieving none of them