Dhaka, March 10 -- The Middle East is already engulfed in a widening war-but its economic shockwaves are already travelling far beyond the battlefield. On February 28 2026, coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes struck Iranian military facilities and targeted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with counter attacks on Israel and US bases in Gulf States, while declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed to commercial shipping and launching strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure.

The stakes are global. Nearly 21 million barrels of oil-one fifth of world supply-and 20 per cent of LNG shipments pass through Hormuz each day. Even the threat of disruption is enough to send energy markets into turmoil. Brent crude has already surged pa...