March 22, 2026

Iran erklärt: Straße von Hormus ist offen – außer für Schiffe von „Feinden“

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Die Straße von Hormus sei weiterhin passierbar, erklärt der iranische Vertreter bei der UN-Seefahrtsorganisation. „Feindliche“ Schiffe seien allerdings ausgenommen.

Eine Passage durch Straße von Hormus bleibt nach iranischen Angaben möglich, mit Ausnahme von Schiffen, die mit „Irans Feinden“ in Verbindung stehen, wie die iranische Nachrichtenagentur Mehr auf Telegram mitteilte. Das habe der Iran in einer Stellungnahme an die Internationale Seeschifffahrts-Organisation (IMO) erklärt, hieß es.

Der Schiffsverkehr durch die Straße von Hormus ist aufgrund des Iran-Kriegs stark eingeschränkt. Die strategisch wichtige Handelsroute ist für etwa ein Fünftel der weltweiten Öl- und LNG-Transporte von zentraler Bedeutung. Die weitgehende Blockade hat weltweit für steigende Energiepreise gesorgt. » | Anika Schlünz | Sonntag, 22. März 2026

Iran-Krieg: Spanien friert die Mieten ein: Spanien beschließt wegen des Iran-Kriegs einen Mietenstopp. Das milliardenschwere Entlastungspaket gegen die Kriegsfolgen führte zuvor zu massivem Streit in der Koalition. »

Iran Warns of ‘Irreversible Damage’ to Regional Infrastructure If Power Plants Attacked

THE GUARDIAN: In a post on X, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that critical infrastructure and energy facilities in the Middle East could be “irreversibly destroyed” if Iranian power plants are attacked. He wrote:
”Immediately after the power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, the critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and will be destroyed in an irreversible manner, and the price of oil will remain high for a long time.
Click here for more » | Sunday, March 2026

‘The Stakes Are Enormous’: How a Prolonged Iran War Could Shock the Global Economy

THE GUARDIAN: Donald Trump’s ‘little excursion’ is likely to have long-term effects, from oil prices to inflation to growth, say experts

In the days after the US and Israel first bombed Iran, financial markets bet the economic fallout from Donald Trump’s “little excursion” in the Middle East would be short-lived.

“There are risks from higher oil prices longer term. But this is a tail risk,” one US-based fund manger said after the airstrike killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “History has shown time and time again that geopolitical flare-ups like this tend to be short-lived. This one should prove to be no exception.’’

Goldman Sachs told clients it expected temporary disruption. “Oil prices to decline throughout the year. But risks are skewed to the upside,” its analysts wrote. UniCredit suggested crude would be capped at about $80 a barrel. “Given its struggle for survival, the Iranian regime has an incentive to keep its response measured”.

Three weeks later, the prospect of a drawn-out war is causing mounting economic problems. Oil prices have soared above $100 a barrel, European gas prices have doubled, volatility stalks financial markets, and consumers worldwide are bracing for a surge in living costs. Central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and European Central Bank, warn the war could have a material impact on inflation and dent global growth.

“Market wisdom still holds that the war will end quickly, with the strait of Hormuz soon to reopen,” said Albert Edwards, a senior analyst at Société Générale. “Maybe the market is right, but in my opinion the risks are asymmetric that stagflation bursts the complacency bubble.”

With each day, more problems are emerging. From the soaring price of petrol and diesel for motorists, to cancelled flights and the worst travel disruption since the Covid pandemic. » | Richard Partington | Sunday, March 22, 2026

How the Gulf Countries Are Responding to the Iran War Energy Shock

Mar 21, 2026 | As energy prices rise, the US is increasingly looking for ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping.

So what are the workarounds? And can any of them stave off an energy crisis?


Iran Launches Attack on Israel’s Top Secret Nuclear Facility in Negev Desert | BBC News

Mar 21, 2026 | Iranian missiles have struck an Israeli town housing the country’s top secret nuclear facility, believed to be the site of its nuclear weapons arsenal. The Shimon Perez Negev Nuclear Research Centre contains a nuclear reactor and is close to the town of Dimona in the Negev desert in southern Israel.

Around 100 people are reported to have been injured in Dimona, when the missiles hit residential buildings. There are unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths. Injuries and deaths were also reported in the southern Israeli city of Arad. Iran said the strike on Dimona was in retaliation for an Israeli attack earlier in the day on its nuclear facilities at Natanz. Iran's nuclear agency said the site had come under attack but there had been no leakage of radioactivity.

Iran’s state news agency said: “The enemy has once again received an unforgettable lesson. The missile attack on the Dimona area has once again sent a clear message: No area is safe from Iranian missiles. The enemy must surrender before it is too late.”

The United Arab Emirates also reported many people injured there in the latest missile attacks by Iran. The UAE’s defence ministry said it had intercepted hundreds of missiles. Israel and the US have continued their airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran, while US Central Command said it had degraded Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

G7 foreign ministers have issued a statement calling for an “immediate end” to Iranian strikes in the Gulf region. They also said they were prepared to take measures to protect global energy supplies.

Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Joe Inwood, Esyllt Carr and Damian Grammaticas.


March 21, 2026

Could the US Lose the War in Iran?

Mar 21, 2026 | Is the United States really winning the war against Iran—or is the situation more complicated than it seems? Despite massive airstrikes and thousands of Iranian targets destroyed, Iran continues to launch drone attacks, strike oil infrastructure, and disrupt global shipping.

How is a country with far fewer military resources still able to challenge the world’s most powerful military? Anthony Davis breaks down the strategy behind modern asymmetric warfare—where weaker nations use cheap drones, missiles, and strategic geography to impose huge costs on stronger opponents. He also explores how the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets, and economic pressure could play a decisive role in the conflict, as Trump begs former allies for assistance.



ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Michael Lambert: Top Ten Brexit Lies and Starmer's Stupid Red Lines

Mar 21, 2026 | Is the "Brexit Omertà" finally over?

In this video, I break down why senior Labour politicians are suddenly finding their voices to criticize the economic damage of leaving the EU.

We look at the latest YouGov data showing a massive 82% of Labour voters now support rejoining the EU—leaving Keir Starmer in a nearly impossible political position. Why did he set "Red Lines" back in 2022 that ruled out the Single Market and Customs Union, and can he ever walk them back?


Bernie Sanders: We Are Living in Dangerous Times

Mar 20, 2026 | Trump’s authoritarianism. War in Iran. A corrupt campaign system owned by billionaires. Attacks on voting rights. And an AI revolution with no guardrails.

March 20, 2026

Le Kremlin affirme vouloir aider Cuba, sans évoquer de livraison de pétrole russe

LE FIGARO : Le gouvernement américain, qui a récemment assoupli ses sanctions contre le pétrole russe, a souligné jeudi qu’il interdisait toujours la livraison à Cuba d’hydrocarbures venant de Russie.

Le Kremlin a affirmé vendredi discuter avec Cuba, pays allié de Moscou, des moyens d'aider l'île soumise à un blocus pétrolier américain, se refusant néanmoins à commenter des informations sur une livraison secrète de gazole d'origine russe. « Nous sommes en contact constant avec les autorités cubaines, avec nos amis cubains et nous discutons avec eux des moyens d'aider Cuba dans la situation difficile dans laquelle elle se trouve », a déclaré le porte-parole de la présidence russe, Dmitri Peskov, lors de son point presse quotidien.

Cuba n’a plus importé de pétrole depuis le 9 janvier

« C'est tout ce que je peux dire sur le sujet », a-t-il ajouté. Selon le service de suivi maritime Windward, un pétrolier s'apprête à livrer clandestinement « d'ici quelques jours » du gazole d'origine russe à Cuba s'il parvient à atteindre l'île. Le Sea Horse, battant pavillon de Hong Kong et qui n'est pas visé par des sanctions, transporterait selon Windward environ 190.000 barils de gazole russe, chargé depuis un autre navire au large de Chypre début février. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 20 mars 2026

Related article in English here.

What the Attacks Oil & Gas Facilities in the Middle East Mean for Global Energy Security | DW News

Mar 20, 2026 | US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against any further attacks on gas facilities in Qatar after Tehran carried out multiple strikes on key infrastructure. Iran targeted the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas hub on Wednesday, causing significant damage to the world’s largest LNG complex, which processes gas from Qatar’s North Field. Tehran says the attack was in response to an earlier Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars facilities. Gas is critical to Iran’s energy supply, providing roughly 80 percent of its electricity.

Steve Rosenberg: In Russia "Restrictions Are Tightening, Self-censorship Increasing."

Mar 20, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers write about attempts to protest against internet censorship, & about growing depression and fatigue in Russian society. “Restrictions are tightening…self-censorship increasing. This doesn’t help our psychological wellbeing.”

Is Russian Oil Headed for Cuba, Testing the U.S. Blockade?

THE NEW YORK TIMES: A Russian oil tanker is being closely tracked to see if it will challenge the Trump administration’s blockade on Cuba.

A Russian tanker full of oil is moving through the Atlantic Ocean and drawing scrutiny to see if it is heading to Cuba, a potential test of the U.S. oil blockade of the island, according to shipping data and industry analysts.

The ultimate destination of the tanker is still unknown. But if Russia is attempting to send oil to Cuba, as some analysts suspect, it could represent a critical lifeline for the Cuban government — and a new potential showdown between two superpowers over the small island nation.

Cuba has not received a significant shipment of fuel since Jan. 9, soon after the United States captured Venezuela’s president and took control of its oil exports, which once largely powered Cuba.

That is causing a severe crisis for Cuba. The Trump administration has threatened other nations not to send fuel, hoping to choke Cuba’s government into submission.

The tanker, called the Anatoly Kolodkin and owned by the Russian government, is carrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of crude oil, which analysts estimate could buy Cuba weeks of energy. » | Christiaan Triebert and Jack Nicas | The reporters analyzed ship-tracking data and satellite images and spoke to oil-shipping analysts for this article. | Thursday, March 19, 2026

Leer en español.

March 19, 2026

Iran Says It Will Show ‘Zero Restraint’ If Energy Infrastructure Is Targeted Again

THE GUARDIAN: Foreign minister issues warning after Israeli attack on South Pars gasfield and as Qatar reels from retaliatory strike

Iran said on Thursday it would show “zero restraint” if its energy infrastructure was targeted again as Qatar revealed that almost a fifth of its liquefied natural gas export capacity had been knocked out in an Iranian strike that is likely to have a years-long impact.

The warning, delivered by the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, followed Israel’s attack on Iran’s massive South Pars gasfield – which it shares with Qatar – which triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas complex and other Gulf neighbours, sending stock markets tumbling globally and triggering sharp increases in gas prices.

Ras Laffan supplies about 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas. Israel also confirmed on Thursday that the Bazan Group refinery in Haifa had been hit and damaged in a claimed Iranian strike.

Araghchi said in a post on X: “Our response to Israel’s attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation. ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck again.” » | Peter Beaumont, Lorenzo Tondo in Jerusalem and Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai | Thursday, March 19, 2026

Iran War: Trump White House at ‘Panic Stations’ over Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Mar 19, 2026 | Saudi Arabia is warning it may retaliate against Iran after fresh threats to oil and gas infrastructure as Donald Trump’s administration desperately tries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

With strikes hitting key energy facilities across the Gulf, this conflict is no longer just military - it’s an economic war with global consequences.

So how far could this escalate? And what does it mean for energy prices, inflation and the world economy?

On this episode of The Fourcast Matt Frei is joined by The Economists defence editor Shashank Joshi and Channel 4 News’ economics editor Helia Ebrahimi.


Iran War Energy Crisis Panics Government: ‘The Genie Is Out of the Bottle’ | Steven Swinford

Mar 19, 2026 | “The genie is out of the bottle and it’s really hard to get it back in now.”

The government is “extremely worried about the cost of living”, especially energy bills in June, as the Iran war causes “huge levels of uncertainty” for UK energy, says The Times’s political editor Steven Swinford.


The End of the Petrodollar? How Iran War Is Reshaping the Global Economy: Author Laleh Khalili

Mar 19, 2026 | Professor of Gulf studies Laleh Khalili lays out the global economic implications of the effective closing of one of the world's "major choke points for oil," the Strait of Hormuz. "It doesn't benefit the average U.S. citizen … at the gas stations, but it does benefit the oil companies," says Khalili. "The higher the price of oil goes up, the relatively cheaper it becomes to actually have sustainable alternatives. Of course, that means that it benefits China … since China is way ahead of the rest of the world in producing these technologies."


Democracy Now! can be supported here.

Trump Threatens to ‘Massively Blow Up’ Major Iranian Gas Field after Strikes in Qatar | BBC News

Mar 19, 2026 | US President Donald Trump threatened to “massively blow up” a major Iranian gas field, after Iran attacked Qatar's Ras Laffan in retaliation to an Israeli attack on its South Pars gas field.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US "knew nothing" of Israel's strike, and threatened an escalation if Iran attacks Qatar again.

If Iran does strike Qatar again, Trump said the US will "will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before".

Iran's South Pars is part of the world's largest natural gas field, with both Qatar and Iran operating facilities in the area - Israel is yet to comment.

The price of gas has risen sharply in the UK and Europe following the attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan.


March 18, 2026

Cuba Abandoned by Allies as Trump Considers Takeover

Mar 17, 2026 | “They’re all hamstrung.”

Cuba’s neighbours Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, as well as it’s traditional allies in China and Russia have been quiet as the US has stopped Venezuelan oil going to Cuba, leading Trump to consider whether he could ‘take’ Cuba, says Jon Bonfiglio, Latin America correspondent.


Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Facilities after Israeli Attack on Its Largest Gasfield

THE GUARDIAN: Revolutionary Guards say they will strike infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar after South Pars field hit

Iran has threatened to attack energy infrastructure across the Gulf region in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its largest gasfield, the first targeted attacks on its fossil fuel production since the war began.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened counterstrikes on several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar “in the coming hours” after state media reports that missiles had targeted its gas facilities at the giant South Pars field, the largest gas reserves in the world.

The strikes on Iran’s South Pars gasfield, which it shares with Qatar, were widely reported in Israeli media to have been carried out by Israel with the consent of the US.

The attack against the heart of Iran’s gas infrastructure marks a key escalation in US and Israeli military operations. The two countries have until now largely spared Iran’s oil and gas sector and helped to keep a lid on the global oil price surge. » | Jillian Ambrose | Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Chris Murphy Exposes Trump's Family Corruption on Prediction Markets, Introduces Bill amid Iran War

March 17, 2026


As I have said many times before, Trump has turned a once decent and admired nation into a SHITHOLE! If the powers-that-be had had the SPUNK, Trump, the Felon- and Sex Offender-in-Chief, would have been sent to prison and locked up for good! Just think of how many innocent lives would have been saved in America and around the world had someone in high office had the SPUNK, the COURAGE, to act WISELY on behalf of the NATION! Wars, chaos, corruption, and a probable impending serious downturn in the world economy could have been avoided. An old, cruel, corrupt man with galloping dementia is really NOT the right man to lead the most powerful nation on earth. When America F***S UP, the rest of the world is SCREWED! — © Mark Alexander