Israel

2024 - 10 - 27

When Oil Meets Politics: The Stormy Tides of Middle Eastern Relations!

iranian Biden administration - Hamas - Hezbollah - Iran - Israel - Middle East tension - military conflict - oil prices - UNRWA - iranian

Tensions rise as Israel’s measured strikes lead to a dramatic plunge in oil prices! What’s brewing in the Middle East? 🛢️💥

The landscape of Middle Eastern politics heated up this week as tensions flared between Israel and Iran, following Israel's retaliatory strikes on military targets in Iran. Iranian leadership, notably Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged calm, claiming that the recent attack should not be over-exaggerated. Meanwhile, the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, was quick to affirm that Tehran does not seek a war, implying a preference for political maneuvers over military escalation. It seems like the world is holding its breath, eagerly waiting to see the next diplomatic chess move.

In the aftermath of Israel's targeted strikes, economic ripples were felt globally, particularly in the oil markets. Brent crude prices plummeted by over 6% as a result of what analysts described as a 'measured response' from Israel that nonetheless avoided damage to Iran's crucial oil and nuclear facilities. This situation reflects a precarious balance—showing that while military tensions escalate, the global economy also bends and twists under these geopolitical pressures.

Adding to the drama is the involvement of the United States, which appears to be taking a backseat in this round of Middle Eastern conflicts. As Israel intensifies attacks against various factions including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, President Biden finds himself navigating a tricky diplomatic landscape. The weighing of options seems to indicate that the U.S. may be allowing Israel to lead the charge, which raises questions about long-term strategies in the volatile region.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has made it explicitly clear that they will respond to Israel's military actions with "all available tools," hinting that Iran's retaliation may not just be limited to military means. This promise of a calculated response adds a layer of suspense to the already complex interplay of international relations. As the world clamors for stability, one can help but wonder how this unfolding scenario will impact both regional dynamics and global oil prices.

Interestingly, did you know that oil prices often react more significantly to geopolitical tensions than to actual military engagements? Such is the sensitivity of the global economy to conflicts in oil-rich regions! Furthermore, while the focus remains on Iran and Israel, other nations in the Middle East are quietly watching this saga unfold—perhaps taking notes for their own future maneuvers on the international stage.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Iran leader says Israeli attack should not be 'exaggerated or ... (BBC News)

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei refrained from pledging immediate retaliation while President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran did not seek war.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Oil prices tumble after Israel refrains from attack on Iran's refining ... (Financial Times)

Brent crude price drops more than 6% as Tehran gives measured response to strikes.

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Israel Calls the Shots in the Mideast as U.S. Plays a Lesser Role (The New York Times)

Now, as Israel unleashes attacks against its enemies — including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and their backer, Iran — President Biden finds his ...

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Image courtesy of "ING Think"

The Commodities Feed: Israel responds, oil sells off (ING Think)

Oil prices sold off this morning following Israel's response to Iran's recent missile attack. The measured and targeted response from Israel has…

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Image courtesy of "CNBC"

U.S. oil on pace for worst day in two years after Israel spares Iran ... (CNBC)

Oil prices lost ground on Monday after Iranian energy facilities were not damaged during an Israeli attack over the weekend.

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

IDF chief on Israel's attack in Iran: 'We have the ability to do much ... (The Times of Israel)

Islamic Republic ambiguous about possible response to Israeli strike, but Channel 13 reports Israel expecting attack at some point.

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: Iranian president responds to ... (ABC News)

The Israel Defense Forces conducted what it called "precise strikes on military targets" in Iran on Friday in response to the Iranian missile strikes ...

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Image courtesy of "Euronews"

Oil prices plunge as Israel spares Iran's oil facilities in retaliatory attack (Euronews)

Crude prices plunged as Israel launched a limited retaliation attack on Iran, sparing its oil and nuclear facilities. China reported disappointing economic ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Cutting off Unrwa would deeply harm Israel's reputation, says UK ... (The Guardian)

Hamish Falconer says legislation under consideration by Knesset is 'neither in Israel's interest nor realistic'

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Image courtesy of "Foreign Policy"

What Israel's Strikes on Iran Mean for the Middle East (Foreign Policy)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that its offensive was in “response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran,” adding that it ...

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Iran says it will 'use all available tools' to respond to Israel's attack (Reuters)

Tehran will "use all available tools" to respond to Israel's weekend attack on military targets in Iran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Monday briefing: How Iran could retaliate against the latest round of ... (The Guardian)

In today's newsletter: After a series of attacks on military and logistic targets, Iran's Khamenei is biding his time.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Satellite photos show Israel hit Iran former nuclear weapons test ... (Reuters)

One struck building used in Iran's defunct nuclear weapons program, researcher says · Other buildings mixed fuel for Iranian missiles, researchers say · Israel ...

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

Many Palestinian citizens of Israel live in fear amid a backlash after ... (NPR)

Palestinian citizens of Israel say they live in an atmosphere of fear, facing a backlash from Israeli society and arrests by authorities since the Hamas-led ...

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

Daily Briefing Oct. 28: Day 388 – Israel's strikes on Iran trigger global ... (The Times of Israel)

Editor David Horovitz on international reverberations from Israel's early Saturday airstrikes, the relocation of PM Netanyahu's cabinet meetings, ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

The Take: Will Iran retaliate for Israel's latest attack? (Aljazeera.com)

Israeli forces launched strikes on military targets across Iran early Saturday, claiming they were in response to ongoing regional attacks by “Iran and its ...

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Image courtesy of "Business Insider"

Israel strike on Iran air defenses widens a vulnerability (Business Insider)

Israel's limited strikes targeting Iranian air defenses around energy facilities have made Iran more vulnerable to future attacks, experts say.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

What satellite images reveal about strikes on Iran (BBC News)

BBC Verify has analysed satellite imagery from Iran to assess damage from Israeli air strikes.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Israeli parliament approves bill to ban UNRWA (Aljazeera.com)

UNRWA, which has been under Israeli attacks since the war began last year, provides essential aid to Palestinians.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Israel has banned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. That ... (CNN)

A boy carries a humanitarian aid package provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in central Gaza City on August 27 ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Israeli parliament vote to ban Unrwa from Israel within 90 days (The Guardian)

Lawmakers also voted to declare UN relief agency a terror group, banning any direct interaction with Israeli state.

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Image courtesy of "Middle East Eye"

Seven Israel allies, including UK and Germany, condemn proposed ... (Middle East Eye)

The proposed legislation, which Israel's parliament, the Knesset, is discussing on Monday, would ban Unrwa from operating in Israel and occupied Palestine. The ...

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Israel bans UNRWA, the U.N. relief agency for Palestinian refugees (NBC News)

Israel's parliament voted Monday to ban the operations of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main humanitarian aid agency operating in ...

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

Defying pressure, Knesset passes laws barring UNRWA from Israel ... (The Times of Israel)

Demonstrators protest for the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip and for early elections near the Knesset in Jerusalem, October 28, 2024.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Israel bans UN aid agency UNRWA from operating in Israel (Reuters)

Israel passed a law on Monday banning the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA from operating in the country, legislation that could impact its work in ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

The latest on war in the Middle East (CNN)

Israel's military operations in northern Gaza killed dozens of Palestinians on the weekend, according to officials in the enclave, while ceasefire talks ...

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Middle East Live Updates: Israel's Parliament Passes Bill That ... (The New York Times)

The Knesset opened its winter session and approved legislation that banned the agency known as UNRWA from operating in Israel.

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