The Briefing Room - Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?

Download Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?

It could be that the US-Israel war with Iran ends soon. That was the message from Donald Trump this week. But it may not. The longer the war continues the more collateral damage to the world economy. Mostly because of the impact of energy prices. But why are we all so vulnerable still to events in one small part of the world and one tiny channel, the infamous Strait of Hormuz? David Aaronovitch asks what it tells us about the problems of global energy and oil dependency and what could be done to alleviate them.

Guests:
Ben Chu, Policy and Analysis Correspondent, BBC Verify
Duncan Weldon, Economist and author
Bill Farren-Price, Senior Research Fellow and Head of Gas Research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
Rosemary Kelanic, Director of the Middle East Program at Defense Priorities

Presenter: David Aaronovitch
Producers: Caroline Bayley, Nathan Gower and Kirsteen Knight
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Editor: Richard Vadon

Published on Thursday, 12th March 2026.

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