Veteran U.S. political communications and crisis management strategist Zev Furst and his consulting firm, First International Resources (FIR), have been hired to advise Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company, SOCAR, on strategic and geopolitical issues of importance to Washington.
Furst, 77, is a long-time political and corporate adviser who runs First International Resources. He has recently taken on a role representing SOCAR’s interests in the United States, according to official filings. His work centers on providing counsel on “issues of strategic importance regarding the United States,” at a time when SOCAR is facing heightened scrutiny and the risk of sanctions over its refineries’ processing of Russian crude oil.
Documents show that FIR was set to receive approximately $582,200 for the consulting services. Furst brings decades of experience advising political and corporate leaders in countries including Israel, Japan, Mexico, and Ukraine. He is known for managing high-stakes reputational and geopolitical challenges.
In recent months, Furst has also advised the Emirati organizers of the COP28 climate summit, focusing on outreach to U.S. Jewish networks. His engagement with SOCAR underscores the company’s efforts to navigate growing political pressure in Washington amid evolving sanctions and energy geopolitics.
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