War in Iran Threatens Higher Fuel Prices, Renewed Inflation
With much of the Middle East's critical oil and gas exports cut off from global markets, rising energy costs could give inflation new momentum.
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Iran is down but not out. What lies ahead for the military situation and its economic impacts?
A clear-cut victory may prove elusive. American forces have performed effectively and demonstrated the superiority of U.S. weaponry. But Iran’s regime remains in place, shows no signs of collapsing, and vows to keep fighting. Its defeat may require a ground invasion, a daunting scenario that President Trump appears unwilling to order.
Tehran is waging an economic conflict since it can’t defeat the U.S. on the battlefield. The target: The region’s energy industry, a vital component of the global economy. Exports of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf are on hold, forcing some countries in the region to curb output. Tankers, refineries and other key energy facilities have been damaged by Iranian strikes. The longer this situation goes on, the harder it will become to restart energy exports whenever peace returns.
Energy prices have already jumped. Barring a ceasefire, they will keep rising. Iran is betting that Trump will have to back off as voters sour on rising gas prices. He is betting the battered regime will fold first. As of now, the most likely scenario seems to be an incomplete U.S. victory, in which Iran is left badly weakened, but defiant and intent on rearming for later.
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The most serious economic risk of the war for the U.S. if the conflict drags on, is renewed inflation due to high energy prices. The economy is likely strong enough to stay out of recession, even though higher gas prices would probably crimp spending by many consumers. But if high fuel prices last longer and filter through the economy more broadly, inflation could prove painful and force the Federal Reserve to nix plans to trim interest rates. That would weigh on housing and other credit-sensitive sectors. In that scenario, Trump would come under mounting political pressure to declare peace.
An industry particularly exposed to the ongoing Middle East chaos is farming. About half of urea fertilizer ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed to maritime traffic, as does a fifth of global shipments of liquefied natural gas — vital to production as both a feedstock and an energy source.
Prices are on the rise. Fertilizer prices have already increased by nearly 8%. Aluminum, another major Middle East commodity, has seen prices rise 32%. The effects of higher energy prices on Europe would be even more significant. Roughly 20% of the European Union’s crude oil and natural gas imports is sourced from the Middle East. The EU’s vulnerability is heightened by depleted gas storage following a cold winter. As with the energy price shock in 2022, a persistent rise in fuel prices now could spark another round of high inflation and a hit to GDP growth.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
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