Trump's Iran move and oil
The market should not ignore the geopolitical risks if the nuclear deal now unravels
How bullish is Donald Trump's plan to decertify the Iran nuclear deal? It might pass without much impact. But no one in the oil market should discount the alternative scenario—that new US sanctions complicate Iranian oil exports, worsen the Middle East's geopolitics, and increase the risk of more regional conflict. Although the procedure of decertification, by way of a statement to Congress, is straightforward, the politics is less so and the consequences of Trump's decision, like the president himself, are unpredictable. Rolling certification every 90 days that Iran is complying with the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a condition Congress put on Barack Obama, an
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally






