Jacopo Scita

Sorry, Emil, I'm not much on bluesky so I missed you post. Anayway, I believe Franziska is already in touch with @ludovicacast.bsky.social (eheh it's such a small world)

The IMF/World Bank spring meetings kick off next week. I’ll be there and here are some of my questions about the global economy. Eyes on tariffs of course but also US role in these institutions as they push back against multilateral orgs/existing rules.
open.substack.com/pub/rziemba/...

Best news of 2025: @ludovicacast.bsky.social is back in Italy and ready to rock in her new role at @iaionline.bsky.social!

Per aspera ad astra! ✨

#NuclearPolicy
#NonProliferation
#ArmsControl
#NuclearSecurity
#Italy

This is a once-in-lifetime opportunity for young and emerging scholars interested in nuclear history and politics.

Please consider applying! (deadline April 15)

Excited to share that our new book, "The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics", is now available open access! 🎉 Looking forward to the discussions it sparks!

Iran Oil Tycoon ‘Hector’ Plays Key Role in Arms Sales to Russia Hossein Shamkhani, whose father is a senior figure in Tehran, has emerged as a major player in the supply of Iranian arms to Russia, according to US officials and people familiar with his dealings.

Latest in BenBartenstein @bloomberg.com series on Shamkani illicit oil network finds evidence it is also involved in weapons trade. Not surprising to me that these highly illicit activities use similar channels/intermediaries as trade moves more undergound

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Iran's Revolutionary Guards extend control over Tehran's oil exports, sources say All aspects of the oil business have come under the growing influence of the Guards, from the "shadow fleet" of tankers that secretively ship sanctioned crude, to logistics and the front companies selling the oil, mostly to China.

www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Gates Forum 3: Sanctions and the Symphony of Power

Key reading on sanctions, economic statecraft from what seems to have been a good conference from the recent Gates forum. Contributions from @dandrezner.bsky.social @danielmcdowell.bsky.social among others
Bookmarked to read this weekend

www.wm.edu/offices/glob...

Question for friends and Iran experts: If #Assad had fallen in *September 2023* under the same circumstances as in the past two weeks, would #Iran have reacted the same way it has today (i.e. abandoning him)?

One could argue that 2013–16 marked the zenith of #Iran’s foreign policy. While the JCPOA heralded a new era of global engagement for Tehran, Soleimani’s fearsome Axis of Resistance was alive.

Today, we’re witnessing the nadir, and it’s hard to overstate how significant this is.

Fuel oil smuggling network rakes in $1 billion for Iran and its proxies The sophisticated smuggling network that some experts believe generates at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has flourished in Iraq since Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani took office in 2022.

www.reuters.com/world/middle...

What the Fall of Aleppo Means for Russia A lightning advance by rebels will force Moscow to recalibrate its Syria strategy.

In @foreignpolicy.com, @hamidrezaaz.bsky.social and I examine what the fall of Aleppo means for Russia's role in Syria and the future of its ties to Iran, Turkey, Israel, and the GCC. foreignpolicy.com/2024/12/02/s...

Il pressing degli alleati su Netanyahu che ora fa sperare Beirut: “Pace fragile, incrociamo le dita” Con l’intesa possibili elezioni e negoziati con l’Iran. Ma c’è chi teme un Paese diviso. E la guerra potrebbe tornare in ogni istante

Il cessate il fuoco in Libano ha una regia, Hochstein, ma è stato costruito su un’alleanza: USA, Francia e dietro le quinte Gb. L’obiettivo è un nuovo assetto politico in Libano e sul medio termine un nuovo negoziato (o scontro) con l’Iran - mio pezzo www.repubblica.it/esteri/2024/...

Good to be at Rome MED Dialogues opening ceremony. Looking forward to enjoying three days of dialogue!

Middle East Airlines Has Become an Unlikely National Hero in Lebanon Middle East Airlines has managed to fly through regional and civil wars since the 1960s. And it is still in the skies today.

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/w...

Iran's vast collection of Western art, much long hidden, re-emerges despite high tensions with US As Iran faces increasing tensions with the West and turmoil at home, a new exhibition at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art is displaying Western artwork including pieces not seen by the public in ...

apnews.com/article/iran...

UN atomic czar rejects Netanyahu claim IDF hit nuclear component at Parchin * * *

www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

Super proud!

The Clandestine Oil Shipping Hub Funneling Iranian Crude to China A burgeoning group of dark fleet vessels operating with impunity on the edge of a major maritime thoroughfare is moving hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned oil — and risking an environmental...

"Harsher sanctions for Iran and anyone doing business with them would drive up costs, raise hurdles and push more trade to older, shadow vessels—but it is unlikely to stop oil heading to China."

Incredible long read from Bloomberg, based on 5yrs of satellite data. www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

SCOOP: Iran to activate advanced centrifuges in response to IAEA resolution - Iran Nuances In the aftermath of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi’s visit to Tehran—an engagement that was anticipated to foster a more favorable environment for dialogue be...

Iran clearly signaling how it intends to respond to IAEA censure: activating advanced centrifuges (which were installed, but not activated), allowing it to enrich 60% in larger quantities. www.irannuances.com/2024/11/19/e...

A bunch of really brilliant people who think about sanctions and their effects are now active on this site.

Here’s a Starter Pack so you can find them!
go.bsky.app/BHkeqVS

Jacopo Scita ‪Cassa Depositi e Prestiti‬ - ‪‪81 citazioni‬‬ - ‪China-Middle East Relations‬ - ‪China-Iran Relations‬ - ‪Sanctions‬

So, since I used to be a wannabe academic, here is the link to my GoogleScholar profile where you can find most of my published works (mainly on #ChinaIran relations, China in the Persian Gulf and #Iran FP).

Enjoy!

scholar.google.com/citations?hl...

Iran hawks will hold less sway in Trump’s new government Republicans are split over how aggressive the next Trump administration should be toward Tehran as the president-elect pursues an America-first foreign policy.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...