Kurdish Policy Analysis

 Panic Spreads Online: Viral Tanker Fire Video Is Weeks Old—But Fear Won’t Wait Kurdish Policy Analysis A dramatic video showing the Safesea Vishnu tanker engulfed in flames is going viral on social media—but the footage is not new. The video, originally from March 11 after an Iranian attack, has resurfaced amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting alarm among online audiences. Accounts reposting messages linked to former President Donald J. Trump presented the clip as a recent incident, despite no verified reports of a new strike. Experts warn that recycling old footage in this way can fuel unnecessary panic, distort public perception, and escalate fears during already volatile geopolitical moments. “In times of conflict, misinformation can travel faster than the truth,” said a media analyst. “Even unintentionally, these recycled videos can spark anxiety and confusion, undermining informed public understanding.” Analysts urge social media users to fact-check conte...

  U.S. troops deploy to Middle East amid reports of potential operations near Strait of Hormuz MIDDLE EAST, March 25 — More than 3,000 troops from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division have arrived in the Middle East in recent days aboard C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft, according to information describing the deployment, as Washington accelerates its military posture amid rising regional tensions. The deployment, which reportedly involved 35 flights since March 12 with additional aircraft still in transit, is believed to be part of broader contingency planning that could include operations linked to Iran and critical maritime routes. Among the scenarios being discussed, sources suggest potential operations involving Iran’s strategic islands in the Strait of Hormuz , including Greater Tunb , Lesser Tunb , and Abu Musa —all of which sit along one of the world’s most important oil shipping lanes. Separately, six U.S. Air Force C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft reportedly arr...

                    U.S. Warships Move In: Showdown Brewing Over Strait of Hormu z Erbil, Iraq, 24th March By Pshtiwan Faraj The United States is rapidly concentrating elite military forces across the Middle East, raising the stakes in a deepening standoff with Iran that threatens to spill into a broader regional conflict. Around 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division’s Immediate Response Force have been deployed with the capability to strike anywhere in the region within hours, according to defense officials. Alongside them, highly specialized units — including the 75th Ranger Regiment, Delta Force, Navy SEALs, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment — are on standby for potential high-risk missions.                      Trump Sends Marines to Gulf as Iran Risks Losing Control of Hormuz Military analysts say one potential flashpoint...

  Bolton says Iran signals leverage from Hormuz risk, urges tougher approach March 24, 2026 Erbil, Iraq — Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said Iran’s ability to disrupt global energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz demonstrates what he described as the country’s leverage over the international economy, arguing that this reality should inform Western policy toward Tehran. In comments shared on social media platform X, Bolton suggested that Iran’s demonstrated capacity to threaten or restrict passage through the narrow waterway—through which a significant share of global oil shipments transit—has broader economic implications beyond the region. He argued that such leverage underscores the strategic importance of the strait and said policymakers should take into account the risks posed by potential disruption to global shipping lanes and energy markets. The remarks come amid heightened tensions involving Iran and its regional posture, with the Strait of Ho...

  Bloomberg: First Tanker Carrying Iraqi Oil Crosses Strait of  Hormuz Since the Start  of Iran War A supertanker carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude oil has successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first observed transit of Iraqi oil via the strategic waterway since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict .  Ship‑tracking data compiled by Bloomberg indicated that the tanker — identified as the Omega Trader and operated by Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines — arrived in Mumbai, India in recent days after navigating the strait. The vessel’s last known signal before reaching India came from within the Arabian Gulf more than ten days earlier. The transit is notable because shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow chokepoint that normally carries around a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil trade — has been severely disrupted since the war began, with most commercial traffic effectively halted amid heightened military risks and geopolitica...

  Erbil, March 23, 2026 | By Pshtiwan Faraj In a surprising shift, U.S. President Donald Trump said he has ordered a delay in planned military strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure after what he described as “very good and productive conversations” with Tehran. The announcement comes at a critical moment, just as a 48-hour ultimatum issued by Trump was set to expire — a deadline that had raised fears of imminent U.S. military action and further escalation in the Middle East. A Sudden Pause After Heightened Tensions Trump said the U.S. military has been instructed to postpone any strikes for five days, depending on the progress of ongoing discussions with Iran. He added that both sides have been engaged in talks aimed at achieving what he called a “complete and total resolution of hostilities” across the Middle East. The shift marks a notable change in tone following days of escalating rhetoric, including warnings that the U.S. could target Iranian power plants if Tehran did...

Trump Says U.S. Delays Planned Strikes on Iran After Talks on Ending Hostilities Erbil, March 23, 2026 | By Pshtiwan Faraj WASHINGTON/TEHRAN — U.S. President Donald Trump said he has ordered the military to postpone planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure following two days of what he described as “very good and productive conversations” with Tehran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the suspension would last for five days and remain contingent on the outcome of ongoing discussions between the two sides. Washington and Tehran have been engaged in talks, according to Trump, focused on what he described as a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.” Shift After Ultimatum The announcement comes just days after Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, warning that the United States would “obliterate” Iranian power plants if Tehran did not lift what he called an effective blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. That deadline was set to expire later on ...

From War Threats to Peace Talks in Hours: What Is Really Happening Between the US and Iran? March 23, 2026 | By Pshtiwan Faraj U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran have held “very good and productive conversations ” aimed at achieving a “complete and total resolution of hostilities” in the Middle East, signaling a possible дипломатический shift after weeks of escalating conflict. In remarks released Monday, Trump indicated that discussions between U.S. and Iranian officials had taken place over the past two days and would continue throughout the week, raising cautious hopes for de-escalation in a conflict that has shaken global energy markets and regional stability. Talks Amid Escalation The announcement comes at a critical moment. Just hours earlier, Trump had threatened military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure unless Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz , a vital global oil route. The crisis has intensified in recent days, with both sides exchanging...

     Iran Drops “Lord of the Straits” Animation — A Chilling Signal Over Hormuz Control March 23, 2026 Iranian state-affiliated media outlets have released a stylized animation titled “Lord of the Straits,” centered on the strategic Strait of Hormuz , as tensions in the region continue to escalate. The animation, which has circulated widely on social media, depicts a dramatized narrative emphasizing Iran’s control and influence over the narrow maritime passage, a critical artery for global oil shipments. While the video does not include official military statements, analysts say its messaging aligns with Tehran’s broader strategic signaling amid the ongoing confrontation involving the United States and its allies. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil trade, making any perceived threat to its security a major concern for global energy markets. Recent weeks have seen heightened rhetoric from multiple sides, including warnings over potential di...

       Three scenarios that could reshape the Middle East and global economy overnight March 22, 2026 — By Pshtiwan Faraj   The war between the United States, Israel and Iran is entering what analysts describe as its most dangerous phase yet, with both sides escalating threats against energy infrastructure, shipping routes and regional targets — raising the prospect that the conflict could end abruptly, but not cleanly. The conflict , now in its fourth week, has already killed more than 2,000 people and disrupted global oil flows, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s crude supply. A War Reaching Its Breaking Point U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to comply would result in the destruction of Iranian energy infrastructure. Iran has responded with its own escalation, threatening to fully close the waterway and...

  Iraq has been cut off from trade via the Strait of Hormuz as the war with Iran has developed over the last two weeks. An oil and trade dispute between Baghdad and the autonomous  Kurdistan Regional  Government in northern Iraq is having ramifications for Baghdad and could also present larger ramifications for the region. Iraq  has been cut off from trade via the Strait of Hormuz as the war with Iran has developed over the last two weeks. One option for the country would be to export oil through the Kurdistan Region, which has a pipeline to Turkey. However, Baghdad has also sought to isolate and control the Kurdistan Region via a trade embargo at the border with Turkey. This is also important because many countries are trying to use pipelines and other means to get around the closure of the Strait of Hormuz . Saudi Arabia has similar challenges. As Baghdad seeks to pressure  Erbil , the dispute continues, which will likely harm the economy in Baghdad and have w...