Middle East Crisis Economic Impact

Analysis: Iran Could Hurt Trump – and Themselves

If Iran somehow tries to close the Strait of Hormuz, it risks destabilizing the global economy, writes Bloomberg's Julian Lee in an analytical text.

According to Lee, Iran, if the regime makes the decision, could close the passage either by force or the threat of force. Western navies patrol the area, but Iran could close it by firing drones or missiles.

"That would make it too risky for merchant ships to enter the strait."

The Guardian's Julian Borger believes that it is a potential way to punish Trump, since a rushing oil price would increase inflation ahead of the US midterm elections next year.

"But it would also be economically self-destructive behavior by Iran, since the country's oil exports pass through the same strait."

He also writes that it could draw the Gulf states – which have been strongly critical of Israel – into the conflict. 

Analysis: A gamble – could cost Trump everything and lead to Iranian nuclear weapons

Donald Trump's attack on Iran is a wild gamble that could cost him the presidency. James Politi, Lauren Fedor and Steff Chávez write in an analysis in the Financial Times.

"The president has gambled with global security and his own legacy at stake. He has no idea what the consequences will be," agrees Stephen Collinson in an analysis in CNN.

The Independent's Eric Garcia believes that Trump has betrayed his campaign promise to be a president of peace, and that he now risks being drawn into a long and costly war in the Middle East, whether that was the intention or not.

Reuters' Matt Spetalnick points out that the risk of cyberattacks and terrorist attacks in the United States is increasing.

Future historians will probably ask themselves whether any of the nations involved, Iran, Israel and the United States, could have acted differently, writes the New York Times' David E Sanger.

He too describes last night's attack on Iran as a gamble, which at best could make Trump appear as the only president who has dared to act resolutely against the country.

At worst, it could force Iran to actually acquire the nuclear weapons the US has long warned against.

"That, Iran can assert, is the only way to keep larger, hostile powers away and prevent the US and Israel from carrying out operations of the type that lit up Iran's skies on Sunday morning."