Analysis
View AllOil Prices Jolted Higher as Gulf Export Route Blocked
Roughly 20% of global oil supply is now stranded behind the chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, unable to reach global markets.
Under Mojtaba, the IRGC Will Reign Supreme
Iran may still call itself an Islamic Republic. In practice, however, it increasingly resembles a state in which the military governs from behind clerical robes.
Markets Respond to the Iran Conflict
The early reactions of regional stock markets reflect serious concerns but not full-blown panic despite an unprecedented escalation of the Iran conflict.
Iran War Tests Qatari Mediation and Diplomacy
Iran’s attacks have perhaps irrevocably damaged Qatari-Iranian bilateral relations and erased the last few years of broader rapprochement efforts between Iran and the GCC states.
Mar 6, 2026
Tehran Warns Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government
The March 6 edition of the Iran Media Review highlights an Iranian military official’s warning to the Kurdistan Regional Government to stay out of the escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Mar 3, 2026
War Abroad, Civil War at Home?
The March 3 edition of the Iran Media Review examines Iranian messaging following the death of the supreme leader and amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli bombardment.
Feb 27, 2026
Araghchi Optimistic Regarding the Talks
The February 27 edition of the Iran Media Review considers the Iranian foreign minister’s perspective on progress on the ongoing negotiations with the United States.
Feb 24, 2026
Iran Signals Deterrence Paired With Diplomacy
The February 24 edition of the Iran Media Review analyzes Iranian messaging in the lead up to a new round of negotiations with the United States.
The Saudi Fiscal Deficit in 2025 Was Larger Than Expected
The 2025 budget deficit was larger than expected. The 2026 deficit is also likely to exceed the budget target, but higher oil prices may help contain any overrun.
Putting the 2026 Saudi Budget Under the Microscope
The Saudi government projects that the budget deficit will narrow during 2026-28, but this will depend on a rebound in oil prices and tight control of spending.
Nov 19, 2025
The Saudi Trade and Investment Commitment to the United States in Perspective
The $1 trillion Saudi trade and investment commitment to the United States will be extremely difficult to achieve given the size of the Saudi economy and its current financial situation.
Jul 1, 2025
The IMF Comments on the Saudi Economy and Policy Framework
The International Monetary Fund continues to endorse the direction of economic reform in Saudi Arabia but notes that risks from oil price uncertainty and strong credit growth will need to be carefully managed to keep the economy on a strong growth trajectory.
Ammar Alsabban: Superman With a Saudi Accent
With passions as diverse as puppetry, podcasting, and superheroes, Ammar Alsabban is redefining the creative limits of Saudi identity.
Rahina: A Jeweler’s Ode to Dhofari Heritage
Through Rahina, Fatma al-Najjar is exploring her Dhofari heritage and tapping into ancestral memories, one piece of jewelry at a time.
10 min read
Independent Researchers Are Advancing UAE History on Social Media
Independent researchers and informal collaboratives have been connecting through social media to fill in gaps in popular knowledge of the United Arab Emirates’ pre-state era.
Manama Story: Preserving the Soul of the City
The Manama Story project seeks to preserve the history of the Bahraini city, one archive at a time.
A New Gulf Partnership
In May, President Donald J. Trump embarked on a trip to the Gulf that signals a new era in U.S.-Gulf relations. AGSI's A New Gulf Partnership series explores the ways U.S. strategic relations with these countries are evolving and offers policy recommendations for the U.S. administration to maximize political and economic influence.
Nov 13, 2024
Energy and Climate Initiative
AGSIW’s Energy and Climate Initiative explores Gulf energy and climate policies, technological advances, and pressing political, social, and environmental issues ahead of COP28.
Nov 5, 2024
U.S. Presidential Election
AGSIW’s U.S. Presidential Election series explores Gulf perspectives on the 2024 election and considers how the election results may shape the future of U.S. engagement in the Gulf region.
Sep 6, 2024
Trees of the Gulf
This series looks at the vital role certain trees play in the region's collective memory, survival, and plans for the future.
All Analysis
Oil Prices Jolted Higher as Gulf Export Route Blocked
Roughly 20% of global oil supply is now stranded behind the chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, unable to reach global markets.
Under Mojtaba, the IRGC Will Reign Supreme
Iran may still call itself an Islamic Republic. In practice, however, it increasingly resembles a state in which the military governs from behind clerical robes.
Markets Respond to the Iran Conflict
The early reactions of regional stock markets reflect serious concerns but not full-blown panic despite an unprecedented escalation of the Iran conflict.
Iran War Tests Qatari Mediation and Diplomacy
Iran’s attacks have perhaps irrevocably damaged Qatari-Iranian bilateral relations and erased the last few years of broader rapprochement efforts between Iran and the GCC states.
Will the U.S.-Iran Conflict Reshape Global Energy Flows and Shipping?
The longer the conflict lasts, and the more damage to energy facilities, the greater the risk of oil market tightness, rising prices, and stranded commodities.
Caught in the Crosshairs, Gulf Arab Countries Remain Crucial to Peace
Though they were unsuccessful in preventing the current conflict, and, as expected, have been dragged into the U.S.-Israeli confrontation with Iran, Gulf Arab countries remain crucial to hopes for limiting the war and bringing it to a quick resolution.
