Has Russia’s fuel crisis given Iranian oil an opening in Central Asia?

What happened: Central Asian countries have begun buying oil from Iran as Russian fuel supplies run dry amid Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Tajikistan announced in August it was receiving oil and petroleum products from Iran, and Tehran agreed to a joint refinery in Kyrgyzstan. Key numbers: Tajikistan traditionally sourced up to 80 percent of its petroleum products from Russia; Kyrgyzstan Why it matters: The shift gives Iran a new outlet as US sanctions and a naval blockade curtail its crude sales, while Central Asian states dependent on Moscow are forced to diversify.

Central Asian countries have begun buying oil from Iran as Russian fuel supplies run dry amid Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Tajikistan announced in August it was receiving oil and petroleum products from Iran, and Tehran agreed to a joint refinery in Kyrgyzstan.

The shift gives Iran a new outlet as US sanctions and a naval blockade curtail its crude sales, while Central Asian states dependent on Moscow are forced to diversify.