Arabic version: تراجع الأسواق الآسيوية مع ارتفاع أسعار النفط وصراع إيران

Asian stock markets experienced a decline for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, reacting to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. According to BBC News, South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index was 6% lower during early trading, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell over 3%. The ASX 200 in Australia also saw a decrease of 1.8%.

In contrast, oil prices edged higher, with Brent crude rising approximately 1.5% in Asian morning trade, following a surge over the past two days. The conflict in the Middle East has significantly impacted financial markets, leading to a spike in global energy prices. The situation escalated after attacks on vessels near the critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for oil and gas.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a standstill as Iran has threatened to “set fire” to ships in the area. President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy would protect vessels in the region “if necessary,” aiming to alleviate the energy supply crisis. He also mentioned that Washington would offer risk insurance to shipping firms to ensure the “FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD.”

The fallout from the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran over the weekend has led to Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, causing significant disruptions to both shipping and commercial flights. The conflict has particularly affected export-reliant nations like South Korea and Japan, which are sensitive to geopolitical tensions that threaten their shipping routes.