Kazakhstan has sought to position itself as a neutral party in the wake of coordinated US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent drone and missile strikes against Gulf countries.President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev “strongly condemned all military actions”, reached out to five Arab nations leaders, and stated on March 1 that Kazakhstan would be “ready to provide assistance if necessary” to Gulf countries.On March 3, deputy foreign minister Alibek Bakayev said the country was “not taking sides.” The following day, Serik Zhumangarin, deputy Prime Minister and minister of economy, said that Kazakhstan would continue to trade with Iran and countries in the Gulf. [Read more here.] Following an inspection by the West Kazakhstan region’s department of ecology, the ministry of ecology fined the international consortium operating Karachaganak, a major gas and condensate field, on March 3.The consortium, which includes British Shell and Italy’s Eni, was fined more than 2 billion tenge ($4.2 million) for exceeding emissions and wastewater discharge limits.On March 5, Shell and Kazakhstan’s government signed an agreement to allow oil and gas exploration in the Zhanaturmys block in the Aktobe region.The contract, which will run until 2032, comes amid ongoing court and arbitration disputes between Shell and Kazakhstan’s government.In February its CEO said it would halt future investment in the country.