Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war

The economic impact of the 2026 Iran War, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has been described as the most severe global supply disruption since at least the 1970s, characterized by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as the "greatest global energy and food security challenge in history." The conflict has echoed the 1970s energy crisis through acute supply shortages, currency volatility, inflation and heightened risks of stagflation and recession.^[1][2][3][4] Interest rates reductions were expected to be postponed or conversely increased in light of higher inflation caused by supply shortages and speculation. Stock markets experienced declines globally, with the Dow Jones falling over 400 points and the S&P 500 dropping 0.7% on 2 March.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]} The impact is at its most severe in West Asia and the Near East; while Asia is the most affected by petroleum supply disruption, the long term economic consequences are likely to be felt harder in Europe.^[11][12]

The war has caused a systemic collapse of the West Asian economic model, characterized by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as the "greatest global energy and food security challenge in history." Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on 4 March 2026, oil and LNG exports were stranded, causing Brent Crude to surge past $120 per barrel and forcing QatarEnergy to declare force majeure on all exports.^[13] The oil production of Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates collectively dropped by a reported 6.7 million barrels per day by 10 March,^[14] and by at least 10 million barrels per day as of 12 March.^[15] It is the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.^[16] The maritime blockade triggered a concurrent "grocery supply emergency" across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, which rely on the Strait for over 80% of their caloric intake; by mid-March, 70% of the region's food imports were disrupted, forcing retailers like Lulu Retail to airlift staples, resulting in a 40–120% spike in consumer prices.^[17] The crisis has shifted from a fiscal contraction toward fears about a humanitarian crisis following Iranian strikes on desalination plants—the source of 99% of drinking water in Kuwait and Qatar—while the regional aviation sector, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, faced a near-total cessation of operations due to multi-national airspace closures.^[18][19]

Beyond immediate trade disruptions, analysts have noted a profound shift in the region's long-term economic narrative.^[20][21] Deutsche Welle (DW) reported that the Gulf states are unlikely to sustain high levels of investment spending during or after the war.^[22] The conflict has been described as the "end of the narrative" that the Gulf is a permanently safe destination for expatriates, immigrants, and tourists; the Qatar-funded Middle East Council on Global Affairs suggested the war has "irreversibly shaken" the region's image, exposing a deep-seated fragility beneath the facade of the Gulf's rapid economic transformation.^{[23][24][25][26][27]} Sinem Cengiz, a Kuwaiti journalist, conveyed in her article how the immeasurable social and psychological impact in the economic, political and security spheres were unlikely to fade.^[28]

The closure of the airspace above the Middle East has caused widespread disruptions in aviation and tourism globally, only surpassed in recent memory by the COVID pandemic.^[29][4][30] The closures have led to the grounding of thousands of flights, affecting major carriers like Emirates Airlines and causing significant losses in tourism revenue for the Middle East and affecting thousands of passengers and cargo flying between Africa, Asia and Europe.^[31] European tourism to the eastern Mediterranean has also been sharply impacted such as to Turkey and Greece due to the regional turmoil.^[32] Air travel is expected to experience major disruption until at least May and future summer holiday travel has already been affected.^[32][33]

The war has precipitated a second major energy crisis and subsequently economic crisis for Europe, primarily through the suspension of Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.^[34] The conflict coincided with historically low European gas storage levels—estimated at just 30% capacity following a harsh 2025–2026 winter—causing Dutch TTF gas benchmarks to nearly double to over €60/MWh by mid-March.^[35] Consequently, the European Central Bank (ECB) postponed its planned interest rate reductions on 19 March, raising its 2026 inflation forecast and cutting GDP growth projections, with economists warning that energy-intensive economies face high risks of technical recession if the maritime blockade persists through the summer refill season; UK inflation is expected to breach 5% in 2026.^[36][37] The crisis has further impacted industrial output in the United Kingdom and the EU, where chemical and steel manufacturers have imposed surcharges of up to 30% to offset surging electricity and feedstock costs, potentially leading to permanent deindustrialization in some sectors.^[38][39] The economic impact on Europe has been characterized by a severe energy-supply shock and industrial strain, with the European Central Bank (ECB) warning that a prolonged conflict will likely trigger a period of stagflation and push major energy-dependent economies, including Germany and Italy, into technical recession by the end of 2026.^[40][41]

Due to related increased tensions in Houthi Yemen, commercial vessels have been avoiding the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal route in preference to the Cape of Good Hope to reach the Indian Ocean.^[42][43] Additionally, the simultaneous war between Afghanistan and Pakistan has disrupted airspace and trade routes through Central Asia.^[44][45][46]

The 2026 Iran conflict began on 28 February 2026, with joint US-Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian leadership and military infrastructure, including a decapitation strike that assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury" by the US, involved advanced military equipment costing millions of dollars, such as precision-guided munitions and stealth aircraft.^[47] Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on US and Israeli targets, as well as Gulf states hosting US forces, leading to airspace closures and attacks on infrastructure.^[48] Prior to the conflict, Iran's economy was strained by sanctions, protests, and a depreciating rial, with inflation exceeding 40% in 2025.^[49] The strikes intensified these pressures, while global markets reacted to fears of supply chain disruptions.

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) described the situation caused by the war as the "greatest global energy security challenge in history".^[51] The conflict caused immediate volatility in energy markets, with Brent crude oil prices surging 10–13% to around $80–82 per barrel by 2 March 2026.^[52] Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted 20% of global oil supplies and significant liquefied natural gas (LNG) volumes.^[53] Analysts forecast prices could reach $100 per barrel if disruptions persisted, potentially adding 0.8% to global inflation.^[54] Exports from the region are typically going to Asian countries, with China, India, Japan and South Korea accounting for 75% of oil and 59% of LNG exports.^[55] However, Singapore and Taiwan depend more on Qatari LNG, while Pakistan and Bangladesh are more price sensitive.^[56]

European natural gas prices nearly doubled after, on 2 March, the Qatari Ministry of Defense announced that two Iranian drones attacked Qatari gas facilities, followed closely by an announcement from QatarEnergy that all gas production in the country has been halted. This raised concerns over energy security and fertilizer costs.^[57][58] EU natural gas prices decreased again to a less-high €48/MWh on Wednesday 4 March.^[59]

QatarEnergy later announced that it was declaring Force Majeure on its contracts with buyers, and internal sources speaking to Reuters said that it would soon be shutting down gas liquefication, and that restarting it would take weeks.^[60] These announcements caused increases in world gas prices, which analysts said was a part of the Iranian government's plan to apply pressure on the world to stop the war.^[61] On 6 March, al-Kaabi warned that if the war continues other Gulf energy producers may be forced to halt exports and declare Force Majeure, and that "this will bring down economies of the world".^[62]

On 6 March, it was reported that according to satellite imagery analysis by both Bloomberg and the Energy Economics and Society Research Institute in Tokyo, Ras Laffan, the main gas facility in Qatar, appears to have not been damaged before the "unprecedented shutdown" which sent fuel prices higher.^[63] The United States, buffered by domestic production, faced less direct impact but saw gasoline prices rise 5–10 cents per gallon daily.^[5] The British think tank The Food Policy Institute has warned of long-term increases in food prices due to disruption in fuel and fertiliser markets.^[64]

Aviation has been significantly disrupted due to the closure of airspace on key flight corridors between Africa, Asia and Europe. Airlines have been rerouting flights along longer flight paths that circumnavigate the Middle East, adding to journey time and fuel costs, whereas several major airports in the Middle East have also been closed which collectively handle around 15% of global air traffic. The war more than doubled the price of kerosene-based products like diesel and jet fuel, as refineries lack certain types of crude oil.^[65] Many airlines have increased ticket prices or cancelled flights to maintain cashflow.^[66] Thousands were left stranded globally and repatriation efforts were described as the biggest since COVID or World War II.^[67]

Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and the UAE closed their respective airspace following the attacks, with multiple airliners being redirected to other destinations.^[68][69][70] Iran's airspace was largely empty of civilian aircraft following the initial strikes on 28 February as regional states closed airspace.^[71][72] The major airlines of the Middle East, including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, suspended all operations, facing major disruptions, leading to losses estimated at in billions.^[31] International airlines like Air India, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, IndiGo, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air also suspended services to the Middle East in view of the conflict.^{[73][74][75][76]}

Airspace closures in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and other Gulf states have led to over 4,000 daily flight cancellations, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers.^[77] Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Abu Dhabi sustained damage from Iranian strikes, while planes in Kuwait were grounded after airport hits.^[78]

Global stock markets declined, with the Dow Jones falling over 400 points and the S&P 500 dropping 0.7% on 2 March.^[79] European and Asian indexes fell 1–2%, reflecting fears of inflation and supply chain issues.^[80] Gold prices rose as a safe-haven asset, while airline stocks like United Airlines dropped 6%.^[81] Emerging markets as a whole were adversely affected by the war, while the value of the US dollar rose in the war's first days.^[82] Prolonged conflict risked a global recession, with higher energy costs eroding consumer spending and industrial competitiveness.^[83] Developing economies faced currency pressures, while central banks grappled with rate decisions amid inflation, limiting central banks' ability to cut interest rates.^[9][84] Emerging markets experienced currency pressures from a stronger US dollar.^[9]

Financial markets saw volatility, with stock indices like Japan's Nikkei dropping over 2%.^[85] On 2 March, the KSE 100 index witnessed a market halt and recorded its largest-ever single-day decline, losing 16,089 points, or 9.57%, to close at 151,973 points.^[86][87] South Korea's KOSPI index suffered its biggest crash since the 2008 financial crisis, dropping up to 12% in a single day and triggering a circuit breaker on 4 March. The Thai Stock Exchange also imposed a trading curb after a 8% decline.^[88]

Following the war, most flights to and from Dubai were grounded due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, disrupting gold shipments. According to some experts, the disruption caused significant price swings in target markets, including India, where gold prices went from a $50 discount to the London price in a matter of days.^[89] The expansion of military conflicts in the Middle East has posed a new shock to the U.S. economy, which was already struggling with tariffs, persistent inflation, and declining employment. According to the Anadolu Agency, Iran's retaliatory attacks on US bases in Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain have injected uncertainty into global markets and raised alarm bells for economic policymakers in Washington.^[90]

The near-total halt of tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has caused a significant disruption in the global supply of sulfur, with Gulf countries accounting for roughly 45% of the global commodity. As a major producer of sulfur and urea, the region's supply stoppage is projected to spike costs fertilizers, metal leaching in the copper industry, and sulfuric acid. The crisis has also constrained the supply of helium, crucial for semiconductor manufacturing.^[91] The UN World Food Programme and various analysts warn that these disruptions are driving long-term increases in global food prices,^[92] threatening a scenario similar to the 2022 food crisis.^[93] According to The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), roughly 50% of global urea and sulfur exports, along with 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG)—a feedstock for nitrogen fertilizers—transit through the strait.^[94]

Several economists and market analysts have suggested that the conflict could also have indirect effects on global real estate investment patterns. Previous geopolitical crises in the Middle East, most notably the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, were associated with significant increases in petrodollar wealth and capital outflows from the region, part of which was invested in overseas property markets, notably prime real estate in London. Scholars and property market analysts have documented the role of Middle Eastern investment in the internationalization of London's housing market from the late twentieth century onward, and noted the correlation between crises in the Middle East and strong price increases in London's real estate.^[95][96][97] During the 2026 Iran war, disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and heightened geopolitical risk in the Gulf led some investment strategists to speculate that similar "safe-haven" capital flows could emerge if regional instability persisted. Analysts noted that London has historically attracted international wealth during periods of geopolitical uncertainty due to its deep financial markets, strong legal protections for property rights and liquid real estate sector. However, economists cautioned that the overall impact would depend on the duration of the conflict and broader global economic conditions, including interest rates and energy prices.

Iran's economy, already contracting under sanctions, faced further infrastructure damage and revenue losses.^[98] Iran imports grain mainly through its Persian Gulf harbours, but struggled to fund it even before the war. Most feed-grain (mainly corn from Brazil) is imported via the Strait of Hormuz to the Bandar-e Emam Khomeini harbour. 30% of wheat is imported. By 6 March 9 grain ships were outside the Strait of Hormuz, inbound for Iran.^[99] By 6 March, 4000 civilian buildings had already been damaged by the US-Israeli strikes .^[100] Despite the economic harm by the US-Israel attacks, Intelligence reports considered it "unlikely" that such damage would topple Iran's military and clerical structure in the short term, and that it would not help the fragmented Iranian opposition to seize power on its own.^[101] Russia, despite denying providing the alleged assistance^[102][103], clearly benefits from the conflict's continuation, particularly the rise in oil prices.^[104][105] Some countries like Sudan, that have being receiving Iranian drones for their military development, have lost their continuous supply of those due to the damage on Iran's industry, although Iran not necessarily cut them off completely and only constrained how many drones can spare.^[106]

A lot of Middle Eastern countries have shut down their liquefied natural gas facilities, suspended production of oil refineries and chunks of their gas and oil exports, as also strategic commercial ports were hit in the crossfire.^[107] Arab economists, like Qatar's Energy Minister Al-Kaabi, have adverted that Gulf energy exports may halt if war continues as the continued fighting could drive oil prices to $150 per barrel and gas prices to $40 per million thermal units, caused by the current increase in exporters declaring a situation of force majeure and suspending contractual obligations (which currently is damaging the normal energy supply cycles due to suspension of production in energy companies like QatarEnergy), and that could lead in the long term to the "collapse of world economies", but in the short term to stall the recovery of Gulf Countries for months if the war ended soon.^[108] Asia's importers, like China (the economic partner of many countries in the war zone), saw heightened costs, while Middle Eastern economies suffered from suspended aviation and tourism.^[109]

Energy prices will rise for everyone, there will be shortages of some products, and there will be a chain of negative reactions for factories that will not be able to secure supplies

According to a Wirtschaftswoche analysis, prolonging the conflict would mean a "catastrophe" for the Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE.^[110]

There has been a major exodus of expats and immigrants from the major Gulf states as a result of the war.^[111][22] Several academics and journalists from the region have written about the long term socioeconomic impact on the region and its consequences for immigration.^{[23][24][25][26][27][28]}

There is likely to be a long term impact in the westward movement of Indians to the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of Indian nationals have been repatriated from the region,^[112]including a high percentage of the skilled professionals and business owners, driving a 14% growth in secondary real estate markets of India.^[113] This suggests that the movement is long term in nature and policy makers in India have taken note of this;^[114] interviews of Indians who lived in the region suggests the impact of shock and trauma of the war may be long term.^{[115][116][117]}

Tourism in the UAE and Qatar suffered, with hotel bookings plummeting and economic hubs like Dubai facing paralysis.^[118] According to a Wirtschaftswoche analysis, prolonging the conflict would mean an economic "catastrophe" for the Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE.^[110] Major sporting events in the Middle East have been canceled or rescheduled in multiple countries due to the war including the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Grand Prix Formula One races.^[119] The 2026 Dubai World Cup Night, while still scheduled to take place on 28 March, has also been affected as many participants, most notably 2025 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Danon Decile, have cancelled their plans to compete in the scheduled races citing the ongoing tension as well as disruption of air travel.^[120][121]

The countries along the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) have been diplomatically cautious due to reasons linked to trade and national security. The main preoccupation is related to the high risk of being merged the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict with the Iran–Israel proxy conflict due to the informal pro-US Azerbaijan–Israel and pro-Russia Armenia–Iran geo-strategic alliances (which also could affect the Georgian–Ossetian conflict), as also the fear of an uprising by Azerbaijani separatists in Iran backed by the US and Israel that could destabilize the local Geopolitical calculations in the zone (currently based in the 2025 Armenia–Azerbaijan peace negotiations). Another preoccupation has been the exodus of foreign nationals seeking to escape the war zone through the Azerbaijan–Iran border and Armenia–Iran border. The three Caucasian countries have been calling for a quick cessation of hostilities, and the Armenian Government since 28 February established a working group (from the Security Council of Armenia) to assess the US-Israel War on Iran potential impact on the Caucasus geopolitics.^[122][123] For Azerbaijan there exist fears about the possibility of an independent Iranian Azerbaijan or a post-Islamic Republic Iran that could harm its geopolitical privileges with the Western Bloc.^[124]

Since 3 March, Azerbaijan's troops have already begun deploying toward the Iranian border as the conflict rages. This heightened military presence was justified in the fact that the Iran conflict severely escalates the risk of border skirmishes, especially if Iranian internal security collapses or if Israel uses Azerbaijani territory to launch attacks against Iran.^[125][126] However, Jeyhun Bayramov (Foreign Ministry) stated that 'it is impossible for any country to use the territory of Azerbaijan against neighboring and friendly Iran'.^[126][122] China warned that is highly possible that the 2026 Iran War will have spillovers in the Caucasus and spread beyond Middle East if peace isn't reached sooner with respect of Iran's Territorial integrity.^[127] The Kadyrovites (Chechnya's Akhmat special forces who fought in the Islamic State insurgency in the North Caucasus) have stated that they're prepared to intervene in the side of the Axis of Resistance in case the Russian interests in the South Caucasus and Ukraine are threatened by a total war instigated by US-Israel War on Iran.^[128]

In Asia minor, Turkey strengthened the military presence in the Iran–Turkey border to safeguard it's territory and airspace from the risk of spillover due to the increasement of regional tensions at a "terrifying level" due to the impact of the US-Israel war on Iran.^[129] Simultaneously, Erdoğan declared that it's government is closely following the development of the Iranian Conflict, trying to approach to the International community in diplomatic efforts to advise the belligerent parties to refrain from steps that can increase instability and danger the global security.^[130] Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan government discussed the regional tensions and considered to develop a common policy to end regional conflicts and Iran-backed terrorism as also the one of the Kurdistan Workers' Party.^[131] On Cyprus, protests have started against the existence of British Cyprus Bases, as also the Cyprus–United Kingdom relations chilled, both due to the Cypriots fearing that the country could be dragged to the Iranian conflict if the bases are used for offensive instead of defensive purposes, which would have catastrophic consequences for their economy and Foreign policy.^{[132][133][134]}

Italian intelligence agencies have been reporting that it is highly possible that the entire Eastern Mediterranean region will be affected by the growing instability in the Levant and the Strait of Hormuz, mainly suffering impacts on energy markets and supply security, which will impact the Mediterranean countries and Europe as a whole if the Indo-Mediterranean trade route through Suez Canal-Red Sea is damaged by the conflict (especially if Houthis do a more active aid to Iran at the Gulf of Aden), generating a widening arc of instability across the multiple regions of Afro-Eurasia. Such catastrophic Geopolitical possibility of maritime insecurity have been declared as the main reason of various Western countries to deploy troops with the main goal of protect the Euro-Atlantic trade routes (particularly for Italy is a situation of critic National security due to it's dependence to Mediterranean trade routes).^[135] Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has been developing an rapprochement between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council for a common diplomatic strategy concerning the Iran-US conflict and maintaining non-participation while condemning Iranian attacks.^[136][137]

For the Balkan countries, the conflict is not only a Energy crisis that menace their Merchant navy's interests, but it evolved from a regional dispute into a global crisis that threats their local security since the 2026 drone strikes on Akrotiri and Dhekelia on 1 March, as countries like Greece (who said it is not participating in attacks against Iran),^[138] Cyprus and Turkey are hosts of critical NATO and US naval assets that could turn the region (specially the Souda Bay) into high-value targets by the Axis of Resistance, which also harms the Tourism industry if the Eastern Mediterranean is declared as an "unstable" zone.^[139][140] By 6 March, Bulgaria has allowed the US and Greece^[141] to use it's territory to counter potential Iranian attacks, and in so Bulgarians have received resources and personnel for their military protection, fearing that their territory could be targetted by Iranian airstrikes due to its membership within the NATO.^[142] Turkey also expressed it's worries about the insecurity for Turkish Cypriots, planning to deploy air forces to North Cyprus with the mission of provide more security to the Cyprus island and avoid being merged the Cypriot Conflict with the Iranian War.^[143] Also the Greece–Turkey relations entered in tensions due to their conflictive interests as both countries have taken advantage of the Iranian menace to deploy their armies near the Greece–Turkey border and to secure positions to aid the conflictive Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, as also both countries protesting against the other military movements while being reluctant to cooperate as NATO partners (even being denounced that the Turkish Government is secretly helping Iranians against 2026 Kurdish rebellion in Iran).^[144][145]

For the nations in Central Asia (all of them landlocked countries), the conflict damaged its trade routes to southern markets, risking their commerce to the rest of the world through the Indian Ocean from Iranian ports (which are essential to Central Asia's trade geography to reach Europe and South Asia). The immediate consequences have been an increasing inflation risks for importers and a risk of dependence in their air and sea northern corridors through the Caspian Sea from Russia's Volga–Don Canal (which also damages their land southern corridors linking Central Asian rail and port networks to Turkey). Although countries like Kazakhstan (with oil reserves) may see stronger export revenues in the short term due to higher crude prices. In the long term, higher risk premiums will be reflected directly in freight rates on routes used by Central Asian exporters, and as insurers reassess war risk, smaller carriers and landlocked economies will absorb the cost first.^[146]

On 3 March, the foreign ministers of the "C6" countries (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) spoke together by telephone about the Middle East crisis, aiming to develop coordinate responses to its geopolitical impact in the Caspian Sea and Greater Central Asia regions. Such diplomatic forum expresses a shift toward more structured regional crisis management instead of purely economic coordination like other Multilateral consultative meetings in the past. The main goal is maintaining close coordination and prompt interaction amid the crisis to develop an operational diplomatic mechanism to avoid the region to be absorbed by the problems caused by the current external crises in the Iran–Israel proxy conflict, Afghanistan–Pakistan border skirmishes and American Interventionism, as also helping in the evacuations of people fleeing Iranian territory through Iran–Turkmenistan border and the Azerbaijan-Iran border.^[147]

There are fears among the governments and other commentators in Afghanistan and Pakistan that the 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict could also negatively impact the whole region, with the possibility of their ongoing war being merged with the Iran–Israel proxy conflict and the Iran-United States crisis.^[148][149] The Pakistani Government is highly concerned about cross-border clashes in Balochistan^[150] (spillover effects, sectarian tensions, or proxy and terrorist activity) due to its western borders with Iran becoming unstable, as that would endanger them with a Two-front war that they cannot afford and that could affect negatively their interests in their eastern borders on the Indo-Pakistan conflict.^[151][44] Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced emergency austerity measures to conserve fuel amidst soaring global oil prices. The measures included a four-day work week for public offices, with 50% of staff working from home, and a two-week closure of educational institutions.^[152]

In Bangladesh, the war has already created a severe fuel crisis. According to analysts, the main reason behind this is the "panic buying", the tendency of buyers to stockpile in advance out of fear of a future crisis, as well as the creation of an artificial crisis by many sellers by hoarding fuel. There have been reports of long queues of vehicles at various filling stations for refueling, which has disrupted daily movement. On 5 March, to prevent wastage and hoarding of fuel, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation set a limit on refueling for various vehicles.^[153][154]

The 2026 US-Israel War on Iran has evolved into a multi-front missile crisis as the war zone of the conflict is expanding exponentially by touching NATO territory, the Caucasus, the Levant and the Oman-Persian Gulf simultaneously, not being anymore a contained confrontation in the Iran–Israel map conflict, threatening to reach the Eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, risking global security.^[155]

Europe is expected to suffer a second energy crisis and consequent economic crisis, primarily as a result of the suspension of Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.^[34] The conflict coincided with historically low European gas storage levels—estimated at just 30% capacity following a harsh 2025–2026 winter—causing Dutch TTF gas benchmarks to nearly double to over €60/MWh by mid-March.^[35]

Shipping disruption contributed to volatility in UK energy markets, with analysts warning that wholesale gas price increases could raise household energy bills and expose the country's reliance on global fuel markets.^[156] The situation also renewed political debate over the role of domestic production in the North Sea, including potential reforms to the UK's Energy Profits Levy (windfall tax) on oil and gas producers and the future of investment in the sector.^[157] However, analysts noted that additional drilling in the North Sea would be unlikely to significantly reduce UK energy bills in the short term, as most oil and gas produced there is sold on international markets at global prices.^[158][159] Iran conflicts also bolstered the necessity for renewable energy, as solar and wind power can reduce vulnerability to external supply and decentralized power generation that offers greater autonomy from global energy markets. With fluctuating oil prices, renewable energy has become significantly more cost-competitive.^[160][161]

Economists have increased projected inflation rates for 2026 as a result of the war, with many citing an increased risk of stagflation.^[162]

The European Central Bank (ECB) postponed its planned interest rate reductions on 19 March, raising its 2026 inflation forecast and cutting GDP growth projections, with economists warning that energy-intensive economies face high risks of technical recession if the maritime blockade persists through the summer refill season. The European Union has increased it's inflation forecast to between 2.6% and 4.4% depending of the severity of the war.^[163]

UK inflation is expected to breach 5% in 2026, the highest prediction for Europe.^[36][37]

Europe is facing elevated risks of falling into a recession. Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Italy were at the highest risk of recession.^[164] An model by the economics department of Oxford University showed that the UK and the Eurozone as a whole were at risk of contraction.^[41] Economists at the Germany-funded Ifo Institute suggest that Germany and the Netherlands were at high risk of recession.^[164]

The crisis has further impacted industrial output in the United Kingdom and the EU, where chemical and steel manufacturers have imposed surcharges of up to 30% to offset surging electricity and feedstock costs, potentially leading to permanent deindustrialization in some sectors.^[38][39] The economic impact on Europe has been characterized by a severe energy-supply shock and industrial strain, with the European Central Bank (ECB) warning that a prolonged conflict will likely trigger a period of stagflation and push major energy-dependent economies, including Germany and Italy, into technical recession by the end of 2026.^[40]

Europe faced energy security threats, with eurozone growth potentially reduced by 0.1% and inflation up 0.5%.^[165]

The EU defence commissioner in 6 March have informed that the US military costs have been overstretched (having a shortage of key missile stocks) and is becoming incapable of providing enough military aid to its allied Gulf Countries, which has also affected the military aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia (which has provoked a "huge challenge" for European anti-missile defence in the context of Second Cold War).^[166] In France, their main military bases at Brest and Toulon have become nearly empty due to it's mobilization of forces towards the Middle East.^[167]

Tourism to the eastern Mediterranean was also sharply impacted due to the fallout of the war into countries such as Turkey and Greece, which holidaymakers switching their summer vacations towards other destinations and signalling a more mid-to-long term impact on tourism in the region surrounding the Middle East.^[32]

In the United States, domestic energy production buffered immediate shocks, but uncertainty risked undermining 2026 growth outlooks.^[4] Also South Korea expressed its preoccupation with the move of the THAAD deployment in South Korea to the Middle East by the US, as such moves dismiss the American military presence in Korea and increase the threat from the North Korean military.^[168] The second Trump administration declared that three months ago the arms industry quadrupled the weapons production to solve the projected exhaust of its defensive systems due to the military operations in the Iran War, expecting to secure the long-term sustainability of US-Israel interceptor supplies.^[169] Trump stated he is not concerned if gas prices go up, saying "If they rise, they rise."^[170]

The first and most important blow to US markets has come from the energy channel. According to the New York Times, the suspension of tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz (through which 20% of the world's oil passes) and the wandering of about 200 ships in the region have disrupted the supply chain. Saudi Arabia's largest refinery and Qatar's export facilities have also been targeted by drone attacks. These disruptions have been directly transmitted to US markets, with Brent crude jumping 15% to $83 per barrel by 5 March 2026.^[171] Gasoline prices in the US rose 7.5% to $3.20 per gallon.^[90] Gasoline prices rose above $4 per gallon, the highest since late 2023.^[171] ABC News reports that rising energy prices have complicated the inflation outlook. The consumer price index rose 2.4% in January, but the oil shock caused by the war could wipe out those gains (ABC News, 2026). Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has warned that, depending on the impact of the war on the oil market, economic growth will suffer and the Fed's job of containing inflation will become more difficult.^[172]

US stock markets have also not been immune to this tension. Rising oil and gasoline prices have reduced the purchasing power of American consumers. "Rising oil prices weigh on economic growth and push up inflation," emphasize some economists,^[57][173] according to Anadolu Agency.^[90] ABC News also points to the risk of reduced investment and employment: "As new uncertainty is injected into the business environment, confidence will decline, and companies will invest and hire less". If the war continues and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for weeks, oil prices will cross $100. In that scenario, Goldman Sachs predicts that gasoline in the United States will reach $3.50 per gallon and inflation will become a permanent problem.^[172]

California's gasoline prices surged above $5 per gallon during the second week of March 2026, amid the United States' conflict with Iran.^[174]

The Middle East is the primary source of petroleum products for the majority of Asia, including up to 60% of crude oil.^[175] On 4 March LNG spot prices in Asia more than doubled to three year highs, reaching $25.40 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) as QatarEnergy declared force majeure at its giant Ras Laffan LNG plant.^[176][177] Ras Laffan is the world's largest liquefaction facility and is responsible for 20% of global LNG production. The majority (around 80%) of its volumes serve customers in Asia, mostly in China, Japan, India, and South Korea.^[178]

China has been affected by disruption to the trade routes along the Belt and Road initiative that import petroleum and export manufactured goods. However, China is better protected from petroleum shortages in comparison to European countries due to vast reserves and investment in renewable energy, so some Chinese see the war as a positive for China.^[179][180] China has been playing a mediation role in several regional conflicts including Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy war, Afghan conflict and the 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict.^[181][182] China officially declared itself Neutral country, not wanting to also alienate whatever possible regime change in Iran, as Iran is China's third-largest supplier of crude oil (being expected an increase in China's energy import costs and overall inflationary pressures) and China has invested over US$100 billion in energy and infrastructure projects in Iran (which could be halted by the fighting or by sanctions from the US against the renminbi settlement system between China and Iran).^[183]

India maintained a critical stake in the Persian Gulf, relying on the region for nearly 60% of its petroleum imports and as the primary source for over $125 billion in annual remittances sent by a diaspora of primarily low-income workers whose earnings support millions of families back home.^[184] While India was a major ally of Iran during the anti-colonial era, New Delhi has pivoted toward a "Special Strategic Partnership" with Israel in the post-colonial period, a shift punctuated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark visit to the Knesset in February 2026.^[185] Critics and dissenting voices have argued that this reduced Indo-Persian engagement indirectly facilitated a strategic vacuum, forcing Tehran into a closer military and economic alignment with China and Russia.^[186] To mitigate the energy shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Treasury granted India a temporary 30-day emergency waiver on 6 March 2026, authorizing the purchase of stranded Russian oil cargoes to stabilize domestic fuel prices.^[187] However, the conflict has had a devastating impact on the West Asian diaspora; a "mass exodus" of foreign residents has followed strikes on civilian infrastructure, leading analysts to conclude that the war has destroyed the long-standing "illusion" of cities like Dubai as a secure, high-quality destination for low-income immigrants.^{[188][189][190][191]}

The "returnees" refers to a socio-economic shift in India triggered by the 2026 Iran War, which began on 28 February 2026. As of March 2026, over 220,000 Indian nationals have been repatriated from the GCC region and Iran due to the escalating conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.^[112] Unlike the temporary labor migrations of the past, this "reverse migration" involves a high percentage of skilled professionals and business owners. Economic data from March 2026 indicates that this demographic is bypassing over-congested Tier-1 metros in favor of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, driving a 14% growth in these secondary real estate markets.^[113] The influx of "Returnee" capital is seen as a "triple threat" mitigation strategy, as the Indian economy grapples with falling remittances and rising energy costs ($100+ per barrel) caused by the ongoing war.^[114]

The Sri Lankan government reintroduced a weekly fuel ration it had previously implemented in 2022, and brought in a four-day work week for government and public education employees to limit fuel usage.^[192] I

n Bhutan, citizens made long lines outside fuel stations amid fears that the war in Iran will increase gas and fuel prices.^[193] The Department of Trade appealed for calm, saying that Bhutan has enough gas and fuel and that there is no indication of any disruption.^[193] The country is also facing an impact on global fertilisers, with most of it coming from Gulf countries.^[193]

Vietnam is expected to be impacted by a disruption in its oil supplies more than regional countries such as China and Thailand.^[194][195] Many tourists were stranded in Vietnam after airlines were forced to delay or cancel flights through the Middle East.^[196]

The Philippines' overall supply of oil has been among the most affected, more so than Thailand and Vietnam, causing the Philippine Peso (PHP) to drop to a record low of 60.1 PHP per US Dollar on 19 March 2026.^[197][198] Prior to that, petroleum products' prices have also increased with diesel's price in the country hiking up by 38.6%.^[199] Alongside this, electricity prices all throughout the country have also been slated to go up in response to the increase in usage during the summer months accompanied by high oil prices.^[200] In response to rising prices, several government agencies have implemented a four-day work week to reduce electricity costs.^[201]

Since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran, fears have developed that it will spill over into Egypt through the Gaza theater or the Red Sea crisis. The Egyptian government has been considering the conflict as both a general threat to the security of the Arab World and a question of economic national security, due to the effects of the higher oil prices that increase the cost of imports for Egypt and place pressures on the Egyptian economy (specially by straining the public finances and complicating the efforts to stabilise the economy after the Egyptian Crisis).^[202][203] Another preoccupation for Egypt is that the conflict reduced the traffic through the Suez Canal, which is declining vital shipping activity and costing approximately $10 billion in losses according to the World Bank Group.^[204][205] This has led to a situation of near state of emergency directed against the price-gougers, who could be processed in military courts by treason due to harming the traffic of shipping companies in Suez and so the National interests of Egypt as an import-dependent economy.^[206] Another indirect economical effect is that the Iran conflict quietly stalled the GERD negotiations between Egypt and Sudan with Ethiopia (as the projected international mediators, such as the US, UN and African Union has diverted it's diplomatic efforts to the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis), so Ethiopia has been operating the dam without a binding agreement with the other Nile river states.^[207]

The Ethiopia economy has been projected severe price shocks as their economy relies heavily on imported refined petroleum (Ethiopia sources the vast majority of its fuel from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait) due to not producing commercial crude oil. The strait of Hormuz crisis has provoked skyrocketing risk premiums and maritime insurance costs, which translate immediately into inflated import prices for Ethiopia, while the Red Sea crisis is threatening the logistical risks due to the fact that 90–95% of its petroleum imports pass through a single chokepoint at the Port of Djibouti, which is provoking speculation due the fears of renewed Houthis attacks that will be elevating freight costs. Despite, economists have proposed that Ethiopia could avoid the worst part of a global recession if they capitalize on its 95% renewable electricity generation (driven by projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) to accelerate a shift toward electric mobility and so reducing the transport sector's demand for imported petroleum.^[208]

The Port of Berbera in Somaliland (an ally of Israel and of the United Arab Emirates, who have a military presence in the area)^[209] has been considered a military target by Houthis (and their Al-Shabaab allies). The Israel recognition of Somaliland included discussions of Israel having a military base in Berbera, with Houthis warning after the recognition that "Israeli assets in Somaliland would be legitimate military targets", risking regional stability in the Horn of Africa.^[210][211] Similar notices has been sent by the Houthis to the rival Presidential Leadership Council, threatening to attack any US or Saudi military facilities in Yemen on a current civil war (as also Iran has reportedly increased diplomatic engagement with Ethiopia in the context of the Red Sea crisis).^[212] Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, president of Djibouti and ally of Saudi Arabia, denounced that both Israel and United Arab Emirates are driving strategic realignments across Northeast Africa that risk intensifying current conflicts (like the Somali Civil War, Sudanese Civil War, Insurgency in Chad, Libyan crisis, etc.) and a possible merging of them with the Iran–Israel proxy conflict.^[213]

• 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
• Economic impact of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict
• Global energy crisis (2021–2023)
• Iranian economic crisis