Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

US may be looking to punish OPEC

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Oilprice.com
  • 18 May 2023 16:19
  • 2 Shares
5 Min Read

The US House of Representatives may be considering using legislation to pressure OPEC to end production cuts.

  • x
  • US may be looking to punish OPEC
    US President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend an Arab summit, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 16, 202. (Reuters)

According to James Durso of Oil Price, in early May, the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee was reportedly considering a bill to put pressure on the OPEC oil producers' group to stop cutting output by revoking the sovereign immunity that had protected OPEC+ members and their national oil companies from price collusion lawsuits. (The measure was previously approved by the committee in 2018, 2019, and 2021.)

The OPEC Basket Price has been hovering around the mid-$70s, which is not historically high, though American politicians want to talk down gasoline prices before the summer driving season begins. (Saudi Arabia needs a price of $80.90 USD to balance its budget and finance economic diversification.)

Although gasoline prices are greater than they were under Trump. Gallup polling reported in April 2023 that “Americans show significantly less concern about the U.S. energy situation now than they did a year ago.”

If Americans are not outraged about gas prices, that could mean the US is reacting to a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia (mediated by China); Egypt and Iran beginning to normalize relations (mediated by Iraq); Syria rejoining the Arab League; the UAE and Iran in talks to strengthen ties; and the possibility of energy cooperation between Iraq and Iran.

In addition to a punishment for Arab OPEC members, the bill may be a message to others, for repairing relations with Iran and Syria under the guise of safeguarding American consumers. It also avoids a mention of the Biden administration's strategy of limiting oil and gas output, despite the fact that the government has recently permitted limited drilling on federal lands.

Related News

Druze spiritual leader urges separate region to protect Syrian Druze

IOF storm Syria's Beit Jann after occupying Tel Bat al-Warda

A bipartisan group of US congressmen has launched the "Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act of 2023," which would challenge international governments' outreach to Syria and allow for extra penalties against anybody doing business with the Assad regime. 

Durso believes this means that "Israel" and the US would be the losers in the deal. Israelis since they are unlikely to be able to rely on Arab support for an attack on Iran's nuclear research facilities, and the United States, which is losing influence as OPEC members in the Middle East begin to normalize relations with the governments in Tehran and Damascus, and OPEC welcomes China's mediation of talks between Tehran and Riyadh, as well as Russia's facilitation of talks between Saudi Arabia and Syria, and Syria and Turkey. (The worst-case scenario for "Tel Aviv" and Washington is Chinese engagement in Israeli-Palestinian talks.)

Normalization of ties between Arab OPEC states, Iran, and Syria would reduce tensions in the region, which is not in Washington's interests because large clients like the Saudis and Emiratis would reduce purchases of anti-Iran weaponry. Tensions also keep the US active in the vicinity in order to "ensure stability," despite the fact that US activities in Iraq and Libya (and its supporting role in Yemen) ensured the reverse. And the region's tension makes it simple for "Israel's" 'Shabbos goy' in the US to scupper any efforts to persuade "Israel" and the Palestinians to start peace negotiations "or else," especially if the Palestinians welcome the Chinese into the process. 

According to the 2022 Arab Youth Survey, The 2022 Arab Youth Survey also found, “Nearly three-fourths (73%) want to see the US disengage from the region. China, Turkey, and Russia are now seen as the region’s strongest allies” and “the default position of looking to the West in times of crisis is being eroded by new allegiances to China, Russia, and Turkey.” 

This view may lead to other Arab powers, such as Saudi Arabia, declining to join American schemes like the normalization Accords, which "Israel" still thinks will be a detour around peace talks with the Palestinians, and instead favoring local measures to stabilize the area.

Thus, Washington's attack on the Middle East's economic engine, petroleum, and the use of sanctions to thwart efforts to reduce conflict and estrangement between OPEC Arabs, Iran, and Syria. Peace is critical because it would cut weapon sales, promote regional economic diversity and integration, and diminish the need for Washington's "solutions," as well as introduce new economic and political actors to the area, like China and Turkey. 

Washington has a lot of power and can push events in the near term, but it has already lost the hearts and minds of Middle Eastern young who have grown up with the US constantly involved in war operations in their country since 2001 - all for nothing.

  • Syria
  • OPEC
  • Iraq
  • Oil Production
  • House of Representatives
  • Iran
  • OPEC+
  • United States

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS