Russia & Iran attempt to control oil market

[waltky]

Is this what's at the heart of the war in Syria?...

Russia And Iran Moving To Corner The Mideast Oil Supply
10/15/2015 -It looks like Vladimir Putin and the ayatollahs are preparing to corner the world’s oil supply – literally.

Last May I wrote on this site that Iran was in the process of surrounding the Saudi/Wahhabi oil reserves, along with those of the other Sunni Gulf petro-states. I added that, “Iran’s strategy to strangle Saudi/Wahhabi oil production also dovetails with Putin’s interests. As the ruler of the second largest exporter of oil, he would be delighted to see the Kingdom’s production eliminated or severely curtailed and global prices soar to unseen levels. No wonder he is so overtly supporting Iran.”

We’ve now seen Putin take a major, menacing step in support of the Iranians by introducing combat forces into Syria. Many analysts argue that he’s doing this both to protect his own naval base at Tartus and as some sort of favor to the Iranians. Are those really sufficient inducement for him to spend scarce resources and risk Russian lives, or does he have bigger ambitions in mind? Given the parlous state of Russia’s economy, thanks in very large part to the recent halving of oil prices, he must relish the opportunity now presented to him, in an axis with Iran, to drive those prices back to prior levels.

The Iranians, for their part, must welcome this opportunity as well, for two huge reasons: first, when sanctions are finally lifted, thanks to their friend in the White House, Iran’s oil production will only aggravate the current global excess oil supply, reducing their cash flow (although they will still repatriate the $150 billion released by the nuclear deal). They and the Russians must both be desperate to find a way to prevent further oil price declines. And second, Iran’s mortal sectarian enemies and rivals for leadership of all of Islam are the Saudi/Wahhabi clan, so the prospect of simultaneously hurting them while strengthening themselves must seem tremendously tantalizing. To achieve this, the Russian-Iranian axis can pursue the encirclement strategy of the Arabian Peninsula that Iran has already been overtly conducting, as I described in May, and is evident by referring to the map below.

Iran and its allies already control the border across the Saudi/Wahhabi Kingdom’s northern frontier, although the Iranian grip on the Syrian portion is tenuous – hence the Russian intervention. Now Iran is also fighting a bitter proxy war with the Kingdom in Yemen, where Iran is backing coreligionist Shi’ites. From Yemen, Iran can also threaten the Bab-al-Mandeb that provides access to the Red Sea, multiplying the pressure it already exerts on the Kingdom by threatening the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Persian Gulf from its own territory.

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Report Suggests Russia and Iran are Planning to Take Over Entire Global Oil Market Via Massive War
17 Oct.`15 - Russia is risking war with the United States, NATO and the entire military network of the west. Understand the implications here. What Russia is doing in Syria risks provoking a war with NATO and the United States.

I’m not talking about the proxy war we’re already engaged in. Come on, let’s not pretend we’re not at war with Russia in Ukraine. Let’s not act like we aren’t already engaged in war via CIA backed terrorist groups in Syria now being bombed by Russia. But what I’m talking about is full on global war between two of the world’s largest military forces. This you probably already know. And what you probably think you know is that Russia risks this because it needs access to a port in Syria and Assad is a strategic ally. This is the thinking the government dictated mainstream media wants you to use. But come on. Really? You honestly believe Russia’s bombs, fighter jets, warships and troops are all being sent into Syria to secure access to a port?

I’m going to present an alternative possibility that should send chills down your spine. I’m going to give you a logical scenario the state sponsored media won’t dare mention. I’m going to give you the full picture, not just a part of it. Russia’s economy is in a world of trouble. You may know they’re suffering, but do you know the extent of it? Let me help bring you up to speed. Before 2014 Russia’s Ruble (their version of our dollar) was one of the world’s top performing currencies. In fact, for a while it was the world’s best performing currency. Those days are long gone. In 2014 the ruble has lost 59% of its value. It lost 25% since May of this year.

That’s like having your dollar become worth 25 cents in the span of a year. This loss in wealth and value has brought about devastating economic consequences for Russia. So devastating, in fact, that Russia’s is essentially on its death bed connected to a feeding tube and breathing machine. Yet here we are watching Russia conduct significant warfare in Syria. All of this, according to state approved media outlets like CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and the rest of their ilk, because they need to secure a port. Seriously.

Why is this happening in Russia? Simple. The US and allies in Saudi Arabia are making it happen. It’s economic warfare and we’ve declared it. Saudi Arabia agreed to flood the world with oil supply and the price of a barrel of oil tanked from $100 a barrel to $40. Just like that, almost overnight, Russia gets 60% less for every barrel of oil they export. You know that cheap gas you buy at the pump? Cheap oil is good for America because we don’t really export it. We import ours which means cheap oil is great for the United States. But having cheap oil available in the global market has the opposite outcome for Russia. This because Russia is an exporter. In fact, 60% of Russia exports are oil and gas. SIXTY PERCENT! The oil and gas they export makes up a whopping 30% of Russia’s gross domestic product… or GDP as it’s more commonly known. With all of this in mind, Russia is desperate. Russia is looking for a means to an end that doesn’t spell complete and total economic collapse.

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Related:

Putin's Syria strikes are a long-term play for higher oil prices
Saturday 10 October 2015 - Russian airstrikes in Syria, the first launched by Moscow outside the former Soviet Union since 1979, have set the tone for what’s to come. The escalating attacks have mainly targeted moderate, western-backed rebels. Civilians have also been hit, while Russian jets have twice violated Turkish airspace.

These immediate transgressions have shown that Putin, as always, will go his own way in this war. He will draw on as much of his military strength as he needs to, he will use indiscriminate force, and he will bully and intimidate the west’s regional allies. In short, Putin will stop at nothing in pursuit of his goals and the international community needs to understand exactly what those goals are. Putin’s game is bigger than many commentators currently realise.

Yes, this is about Russia’s international standing, but more importantly it is also a long-term play for higher oil prices and, ultimately, a flow of oil dollars into Russia to strengthen his popularity at home. The international aspect is relatively transparent. Putin has to prop up his ally and force his way back in from the cold on the global stage. Syria is home to Russia’s only naval base in the Middle East and has long been a buyer of Russian arms and a supplier of regional intelligence.

More importantly, however, he cannot be seen to stand by and allow Assad to fall. He needs to show the US and the world that he will not retreat from the position he staked out at the start of the conflict. By wading into such a complicated international situation, he is also deflecting attention from Ukraine and weaving a new narrative for himself. Putin is now the bold peacekeeper, leading the charge against terrorism ahead of a hesitant US and earning a renewed place at the top table.

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And...

Russia and Saudi Arabia are 'sending signals to each other' about what happens next to the oil market

 

[Bleipriester]

There cannot be a good will in fighting terrorism, right?
Putin realized that supplying Syria is not enough in the long term and decided to intervene.

waltky, please. This is a topic for the conspiracy forum.