Few sanctions have been used as aggressively as oil sanctions. These measures are meant to hit oil producing “rogue states” where it hurts, starving governments of vital revenues and forcing changes in policy. But look around the world today and you will see a growing list of countries defying oil sanctions. Iran is still pumping. Russia is still exporting. Venezuela is still finding buyers. Oil sanctions were once thought to be the most powerful economic weapon in Washington’s arsenal. But Gregory Brew believes that “the age of oil sanctions as a coercive tool is coming to an end.”

On this episode, we unpack Greg’s argument, and along the way look at how countries like Iran and Russia are still pumping, shipping, and marketing oil for eager buyers. We discuss the networks that move this sanctioned crude, the central role that China plays in this trade, and we examine about a recent report into a shadowy oil broker called Ocean Glory that shows just how sophisticated sanctions evasion has become.

Greg is an analyst with Eurasia Group’s Energy, Climate & Resources team. He also serves as the group’s Iran country analyst. A historian by training, Greg is the author of two books on oil, Iran, and U.S. foreign policy.

The Sanctions Age is hosted by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj.

The show is produced by Spiritland Productions.

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The Sanctions Age is hosted by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj. The show is produced by Spiritland Productions.

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