Letter from Iran: High-stakes nuclear diplomacy
Iran’s oil is caught in the crosshairs of support from China and Russia and US maximum pressure, with options becoming more and more limited
Iran's nuclear talks have once again made headlines as US President Donald Trump has threatened Tehran with a deadline—either reach an agreement or face military action. His remarks have been met with strong reactions from Iranian officials, who have emphasised they will not negotiate under pressure. Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has rejected talks with the US, deeming it a "bullying" government. He also described negotiations with the US as unwise and dishonourable, expressions that make any form of negotiation particularly challenging for Iran’s moderate government. It will be China that decides whether to preserve Iran and defend Chinese companies dealing with the Middl
Also in this section
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
14 January 2026
Chavez’s socialist reforms boosted state control but pushed knowledge and capital out of the sector, opening the way for the US shale revolution






