Clayton Seigle

Senior Fellow and James R. Schlesinger Chair in Energy and Geopolitics, Energy Security and Climate Change Program
Clayton Seigle

Clayton Seigle is a senior fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and holds the James R. Schlesinger Chair in Energy and Geopolitics. An experienced energy industry analyst with specialization in market intelligence and political risk, Clay provides policymakers and corporate leaders with thought leadership and strategic insights to navigate regional and global energy security challenges. Previously, Clay led the Global Oil Service at Rapidan Energy Group. Prior to Rapidan, he served in analytical and leadership roles at Vortexa, Genscape, Maxar, IHS, Enron, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Clay has been a commentator on CNBC, CNN, and Bloomberg Television and a contributor at Petroleum Economist, and has been interviewed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Houston Chronicle, Reuters, and Sky News. He serves on the Board of Directors at the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations and is a past vice president of the U.S. Association for Energy Economics. Clay holds a master’s degree in international relations and economics from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin.

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How to Interpret Wartime Oil Prices

Most oil market observers look to frequently quoted futures markets to represent the price of oil.  But in the current supply disruption caused by the Iran war, the less publicized physical oil market is the best barometer of scarcity.

Critical Questions by Adi Imsirovic and Clayton Seigle — April 24, 2026

What’s Next for Oil Markets After the Ceasefire Agreement?

The ceasefire announcement leaves more questions than answers for Gulf oil and gas exports. Iran is still in control of whether and when ships can pass—and how much that might cost under a new tolling requirement.

Critical Questions by Clayton Seigle — April 8, 2026

Clayton Seigle in NYT: Blockade Iran’s Oil

The best approach to curbing Iran’s oil exports is to impose a naval blockade of tankers carrying Iranian oil, writes CSIS’s Clay Seigle in The New York Times.

Commentary by Clayton Seigle — March 25, 2026

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The Iran Conflict Is Sending Oil Prices Soaring—What Happens Next?

An audio version of "⁠The Iran Conflict Is Sending Oil Prices Soaring—What Happens Next?⁠," a new Critical Questions by CSIS's Clayton Seigle. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Clayton Seigle — March 9, 2026

Audio Briefs

If Trump Strikes Iran: Mapping the Oil Disruption Scenarios

In last summer’s Twelve-Day War, energy supplies were largely spared. But in a potential new round of fighting between the United States and Iran, energy supply disruptions and resulting price spikes are more likely.

Commentary by Clayton Seigle — February 18, 2026

Audio Briefs

If Trump Strikes Iran: Mapping the Oil Disruption Scenarios

"⁠If Trump Strikes Iran: Mapping the Oil Disruption Scenarios⁠," a new Commentary by CSIS's Clayton Seigle. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Clayton Seigle — February 18, 2026

Audio Briefs