On May 23, 2025, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 25 (GL 25), authorizing transactions prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, effectively lifting sanctions on Syria. This comes 10...more
In the aftermath of the overthrow of the Assad government on December 8, 2024, the United States has eased (but has not lifted) its longstanding economic sanctions program against Syria. On January 6, 2025, the U.S....more
The Middle East turned on its axis last week. Thanks in large part to the shale revolution, few Americans heard about it – and most did not care who did. Originally published on Forbes.com November 5, 2019....more
Two of the legal worlds that I straddle – energy and aviation – collided last week in the Mediterranean Sea. The implications for these two disciplines, as well as world security, could be enormous. Originally published on...more
Iraq Would Face 'Wrath of U.S.' if Oil Pipeline Projects with Iran Go Ahead - "Washington would do anything to prevent an Iran-Iraq oil pipeline from ever being built, even if the Europeans were in favor, policy...more
While President Trump and House Speaker Pelosi bicker about nonsense, two very important parts of the world are on a hair trigger today....more