Published on December 7th, 2012 | by Jasmin Ramsey
Can the world live without Iranian oil?
Iranian oil expert Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, featured this week at the Atlantic Council, asks whether the world can live without Iranian oil and if Iran can survive under further severe economic sanctions. The answer, she says, depends on the timeframe in consideration and a multitude of other factors, such as how Iran responds to current and upcoming challenges — like the international sanctions regime and domestic instability – that drive potential customers and investors away.
At present, Iran would seriously struggle to keep its head above water if the price of oil dropped substantially below $100 per barrel where it’s remained mostly constant, says the former advisor to the National Iranian Oil Company International (NIOCI). As to the question of whether the world can survive without Iranian oil, Vakhshouri suggests it likely will in the near future; it has already started adjusting accordingly with increased Saudi output and Iraqi production, Canadian and US domestic production, and other factors such as a global decrease in demand.
About the Author
Jasmin Ramsey is the editor of Lobe Log and a journalist whose articles have appeared in numerous print and online publications including Inter Press Service, The Guardian, Al Jazeera English, Le Monde Diplomatique and Guernica Magazine. You can email her at jasmin[dot]ramsey[at]gmail[dot]com.
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