S. Rob Sobhani

Dr. S. Rob Sobhani, PhD, is an American author, expert on U.S. policy toward the Middle East,^[1] lecturer and pundit. Formerly a professor at Georgetown University, Sobhani is currently the president and founder of Caspian Energy Consulting, a company that specializes in working with companies that have business interests in the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. ^[2] Sobhani has published two books on foreign affairs: King Abdulla of Saudi Arabia: A Leader of Consequence and The Pragmatic Entente: Israeli-Iranian Relations, 1948-1988.^[3]

Political Career

Sobhani made two runs for the United States Senate in Maryland, first in 1992 when he lost to Alan L. Keyes in the primaries and again in 2000 when he lost to candidate Paul Rappaport in the primaries. ^[4]

Education

Sobhani received an undergraduate and graduate degree from Georgetown University and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy from Georgetown University.^[5]

Azerbaijan Energy Deal

In 1990, the then Soviet Union state Azerbaijan was negotiating with BP for its offshore oil exploration. Sobhani, an Azerbaijani-speaking American, was sought by Communist Party leader Ayaz Mutalibov who decided to allow Amoco a chance to get the deal.^[6] In 1991, after Sobhani's talks with Mutalibov, Amoco was granted exclusive rights to the Azeri oil field for one year. ^[7] Eventually, several companies would take a share of the offshore exploration after the fall of the Soviet Union. ^[8]

Contributions

Sobhani has contributed as a pundit to the following:

• The Hill^[9]
• The Washington Times^[10]
• CNN ^[11]
• Christian Science Monitor^[12]
• Huffington Post ^[13]

References

1. ^ Harris, L. (2003). "Interview With Professor Rob Sobhani." CNN Live Today. CNN. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [1].
2. ^ Caspian Energy Consulting. (2011). Profiles. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [2].
3. ^ Rob Sobhani. (2011). Publications by Dr. Rob Sobhani. Retrieved on 10/14/10 from [www.robsobhani.com].
4. ^ Our Campaigns. (2003). Sobhani, S. Rob. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [3].
5. ^ C5i. (2011). Rob Sobhani, Ph.D., Board of Directors. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [4].
6. ^ Morgan, D. & Ottaway, D. (1998). Azerbaijan's Riches Alter the Chessboard. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [5].
7. ^ Steve LeVine, The oil and the glory: the pursuit of empire and fortune on the Caspian Sea, Random House Digital, Inc., 2007, Chapter 11
8. ^ Steve LeVine, The oil and the glory: the pursuit of empire and fortune on the Caspian Sea, Random House Digital, Inc., 2007, Chapter 12
9. ^ S. R. Sobhani. (2011). Bahrain Standing by an ally. The Hill. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [6]
10. ^ S.R. Sobhani. (2011). Israel's Iran Dilemma. The Washington Times. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [7].
11. ^ R.S. Sobhani. (2011). What the Kings of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are thinking. CNN. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [8].
12. ^ S.R. Sobhani. (2011). Yemen doesn't have to be the next failed terrorist state. Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [9].
13. ^ Huffington Post. Rob Sobhani. Retrieved on 10/14/11 from [10].