IIR's June 23 Market Scorecard Brings You Breaking Geopolitical News

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Stay current with the latest geopolitical events, and more importantly, instantly connect to how these events may impact you and your business strategies.

Event	MarCon*	IIR Comment	Outlet	IIR News
Israeli strikes on Iran cap dramatic shift in Mideast strategic balance		"The region is fundamentally different now," said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group in Washington. "The name of the game for decades was that Israel and Iran would engage through proxies and covert operations. That it has turned into an open conflict is something I really didn't foresee." Iran is weakened but not defeated. Its nuclear enrichment program is damaged, but it remains unclear whether it has been destroyed. Possible endgames, Vaez said, include the collapse of the Iranian regime, which by no means would assure the end of enmity; a military quagmire sucking in Israel and Iran, which could further destabilize the region; and, perhaps most feared, a determination by Iran that its survival requires the speedy development of a nuclear weapon.	The Washington Post	Israeli Gas Exports, New Jersey Energy Storage Incentives, Declining U.S. Rig Count: Your Daily Energy News
As Israel-Iran war escalates, Ukraine fears 'more losses' to Russia		Washington's support for Kyiv, already in doubt under President Trump, is set to decline further, analysts say. More Ukraine-bound military aid may now be diverted to Israel, and the Kremlin "counts on this scenario", analyst Smagin said. Shaheds are the most visible and audible part of the military alliance between Moscow and Tehran that is being tested this month amid attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran. Other aspects of the alliance that affect the Russia-Ukraine war include Iranian-made ammunition, helmets, and flak jackets, according to Nikita Smagin, an author and expert on Russia-Iran relations.	Aljazeera	Europe to Ban All Russian Oil & Gas by 2027
Oil prices choppy as investors weigh supply risks after US strikes on Iran		Oil prices oscillated on Monday, touching a five-month high before erasing most gains as oil and gas transit continued on tankers from the Middle East after U.S. airstrikes against Iran at the weekend. Israel carried out fresh strikes against Iran on Monday including on capital Tehran and the Iranian nuclear facility at Fordow, which was also a target of the U.S. attack. The Brent and WTI crude benchmarks touched five-month highs of $81.40 and $78.40 respectively on Monday before see-sawing in positive and negative territory throughout the European trading session.	Reuters	RNG Demand Drives Development in U.S. Alternative Fuel Industry
European defense stocks sell-off intensifies after U.S. hits Iran Asia-Pacific markets mostly decline as U.S. bombing of Iran escalates Middle East crisis The Iran-Israel conflict isn't denting Chinese business optimism in the Middle East		Europe's Stoxx 600 index remains 0.48% lower, but action over on Wall Street is more subdued despite the spike in Middle East tensions over the weekend, with the main indexes near the flatline. Asia-Pacific markets mostly declined Monday, after the United States' attack on three nuclear sites in Iran raised oil prices and investors' fears of an escalation in the Middle East conflict. Chinese shipments to Dubai's logistics hub have risen by 20% this month from a year ago.. Nevertheless, risks remain elevated as the Dubai port is right across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran. Ships are moving more slowly and there are fewer flights.. (though do) not know where products from Chinese sellers go to after they arrive in Dubai, and added that the company doesn't directly do business with Iran because of sanctions.	CNBC	Canada's Steel, Aluminum Makers Mull Support for Tariff Actions Private Investment Aims to Boost U.S. Semiconductor Manufacturing
Natural Gas and Oil Forecast: Rising Geopolitical Risk Fuels Energy Market Volatility		Natural gas breaks its ascending channel near $3.89; short-term trend weakens below 50 EMA at $3.95. WTI holds critical support at $74; traders eye $75.70 and $77.09 if the pivot zone withstands pressure. Market anxiety has escalated around the Strait of Hormuz-a strategic chokepoint for nearly 20% of global oil shipments, amplifying fears of a potential slowdown in Middle Eastern exports.	FX Empire	Slow Start in Tropical Atlantic Belies Above-Normal Forecast
US farmers face tough outlook as China switches suppliers amid trade war		China's imports of a slew of US agricultural products plunged dramatically in May, and it is possible the trade may never fully rebound as Beijing's moves to diversify its food supplies will be "difficult to unwind", experts said. The shift in Chinese demand sparked by the trade war and Beijing's concerns about long-term uncertainty in its relationship with America could have deep implications for global supply chains - and particularly for the US farm sector, for which China has long been a key export market.	South China Morning Post	Minerals, Metals & Mining -- Forum Explains Why These are a Big Deal
Middle Eastern Oil Giants Go On LNG Buying Spree		Gulf oil giants like Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, and QatarEnergy are investing billions to nearly double LNG capacity by 2030. Deals include ADNOC's $18.7B bid for Santos, QatarEnergy's expansion at Golden Pass in Texas, and Aramco's increased stake in MidOcean Energy With LNG margins outperforming other hydrocarbon commodities, Middle Eastern countries are expanding trading operations to rival Western majors. That said, the LNG craze is not limited to the Middle East. Malaysia's state-owned oil and gas company, Petroliam Nasional Bhd., and other Southeast Asian companies are all looking to expand LNG production beyond their borders. Overall, the experts say the rapid expansion of LNG markets is a good thing, with a greater pool of suppliers likely to benefit LNG buyers, boost competition, and diversify options.	OilPrice	FERC Clears Commonwealth LNG
Week 06/16/25 - 06/23/25		Where do we go from here as the U.S. struck three Iranian nuclear sites and Israel and Iran continue their attacks? Will Iran follow through on seeking to shutter the Strait of Hormuz? Will Proxies get involved? Will soft targets come under fire? Will there be regime change in Iran? How much will all of what is unfolding further destabilize the Middle East Region? And, how much will this escalate outside the region? For we know Iran has been supplying military hardware to Russia for its war on Ukraine - will this slow down and affect recent Russian aggression? And, as the U.S. and Western Powers have been supplying Ukraine - some U.S. aid has already been diverted...will more? These geopolitical tensions have increased volatility in the energy commodity and economic marketplaces with little stability on the horizon. Looks like truly uncertain and challenging times lie ahead as the world strives to understand what the overall outcome of further escalations between Israel and Iran will portend...
*MarCon (Market Condition 1-5, with 5 being the highest impact) indicates directional bias or price effect for the relevant commodity (Oil, Natural Gas, Chemicals, etc.) and is graded by our team of experts here at IIR.

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