Toby Matthiesen

God on their side: how the US, Israel and Iran are all using religion to garner support. My article for @ConversationUK theconversation.com/god-on-their-s…

Government financial assets (SWFs and reserves) vary widely, as the respective buffers of Gulf states create very different pathways to weather this crisis. Moody's analysis of current '26 budget outlays and debt service, w/o hydrocarbon revenues, buys years for a few, just months for others. Of course we do no expect drawdowns like this, but useful point of comparison.

I agree, although almost all aspects of their economic diversification strategies are also under attack or severely affected, and will perhaps take even longer than the energy sector to recover. Lucky are those with SWFs that have investments outside the region.

Update on Netanyahu's support for the people of Iran. He calls this a "tremendous achievement." #post" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">bbc.com/news/live/cgj0…

The U.S. admits that an American airplane was shot down: nytimes.com/live/2026/04/0…

One of the most surprising things about this war are the heavy and ongoing Iranian attacks on Kuwait. Kuwait has had mostly good relations with Iran, and definitively had not been at the forefront of those critical of Iran, not least because of Kuwait's history with its neighbours, its political system, and its particular foundational contract in which both originally Persian speakers and Shii Muslims are a sizeable and very important part of the population. Still, Kuwait has been attacked more often than any other Gulf State apart from the UAE, and some of these attacks have caused significant damage. Today's attack on a water desalination plant is really an attack on the entire population of the country. I mean, who doesn't like Kuwait? What is going on here? Kuwait blamed Iran, Iran blamed Israel for the strike. This is under-reported, as events in Kuwait have been for so long.

How the war in Iran is already affecting UK farmers and food production theconversation.com/how-the-war-in…

The world’s supply of helium is being threatened by the Iran war theconversation.com/the-worlds-sup…

Trump has been repeating that he’s changed the regime in Tehran, the fact that his war has changed many people’s minds towards many things, including the war and change. Maybe, for the first time since the 1979 revolution, many Iranians are experiencing the organic feeling of enmity to Israel and America, without the state’s intervention.

The Pasteur Institute has been an icon of Iran’s health care system, a symbol of modern Iran, established a century ago along with foundational health and education institutions. Destroying it could have no other purpose than assaulting Iran’s history, erasing the history of its modernization and development—take Iranians back to the Stone Age.

Once again, a desalination plant in Kuwait has been struck. An immediate deescalation is needed to stop the spiral of infrastructural attacks between the US, Israel, and Iran. These are clear violations of international law.

This essay by Javad Zarif is worth reading as part of a broader reflection on the possibilities of peace. At a moment when the costs of war and disruption are simply too high for all, serious engagement with arguments for de-escalation are crucial. foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/ho…

#Kuwait Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy: Iran attacked a power and water desalination plant early Friday, causing material damager to plant components kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails… #KUNA #KUWAIT

Reposting: God on their side: how the US, Israel and Iran are all using religion to garner support theconversation.com/god-on-their-s…

The war in Iran is having unexpected consequences, such as renewed interest in Switzerland as a financial centre. buff.ly/R3Y7JBP

China and Pakistan announce their joint initiative for cessation of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran.

As a reformist Shiite scholar, @Mohsen_Kadivar has bravely opposed the Iranian regime for decades Now he warns: "The war will only strengthen religious fundamentalism around the world, and it has already weakened democratic forces within Iran." religionnews.com/2026/03/25/duk…

Iraq long tried to stay out of a regional war. Now it’s being pulled in. My latest for @ForeignAffairs on how the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran is destabilizing Iraq — from escalating violence to economic shock and societal strain — and how to curb it. foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

Mein Interview zur saudischen Position im Krieg, mit SRF 4 News, ab Minute 11 srf.ch/audio/4x4-podc…

The Houthis shifted from signalling to action, entering the war as pressure on Iran mounts. Their approach remains calibrated: opening a new front, raising costs, but stopping short of full escalation, while keeping key leverage in reserve. More 👇 crisisgroup.org/qna/middle-eas…