How Turkey Beats Iran on Energy
Iran may be an oil and gas giant, but it has failed to play much of an official role in Iraq’s energy industry because its companies are technically and financially weak. Turkey, on the other hand, is emerging as a tough, strategic competitor.
In the contest between Turkey and Iran for influence in Iraq, energy is one of the crucial factors. It might seem that an oil and gas giant such as Iran would have a clear advantage over importer Turkey, but Ankara has played to its strengths while Iran has, as so often before, failed to use energy strategically.
Both countries seek to use energy as part of wielding wider influence within Iraq. Both also seek profitable business opportunities. But then, their strategies diverge.
