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Mojtaba Khamenei’s Rise Sparks Market Turmoil as Hardliners Mobilize

People attend a gathering to support Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026.  Iran’s hardline factions mounted a powerful show of support for newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei , rallying across Tehran in a display that signaled a tightening of conservative control and diminished hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East.  The demonstrations, marked by mass gatherings and imagery linking Mojtaba to his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscored the regime’s consolidation at a moment of heightened regional conflict.  Analysts warn that the hardliners’ unified backing suggests Iran is unlikely to soften its stance amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. and Israel. Global markets reacted sharply. Fears that prolonged instability could further disrupt energy supplies sent oil prices soaring and triggered steep declines in major stock indices. With one of the most significan...
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ExxonMobil’s Ionian Sea Deal Strengthens U.S. Energy Role in Europe

Under the deal, Exxon will partner with Energean, whose flagship gas fields are located offshore Israel, and Helleniq to explore for natural gas in Block 2 offshore Western Greece.

ExxonMobil has taken a significant step into the eastern Mediterranean energy landscape by signing a new agreement to explore for natural gas offshore Greece. The deal marks a strategic expansion of the U.S. energy footprint in the region at a time when Europe is seeking alternatives to Russian gas supplies.

Under the agreement, ExxonMobil will partner with Energean and Helleniq Energy to explore Block 2 in the Ionian Sea, located northwest of Corfu. The concession covers more than 2,400 square kilometers and is considered one of Greece’s most promising offshore prospects. Preliminary estimates suggest potential reserves of up to 200 billion cubic meters of natural gas, though exploratory drilling will not begin until late 2026 or early 2027.

For Greece, the agreement is seen as a vote of confidence in its role as a regional energy hub, boosting its geopolitical importance while potentially unlocking new domestic resources. Energean will remain the operator during the exploration phase, but ExxonMobil is expected to assume control if commercial discoveries are made.

This move underscores ExxonMobil’s global strategy of diversifying its exploration portfolio while aligning with U.S. energy diplomacy. If successful, the Ionian Sea project could reshape the energy map of southern Europe, offering both economic and strategic benefits to Greece and its partners.



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