Iran – Techin' Geek

Oil prices soared on Monday following the United States and Israel’s assault on Iran over the weekend, with forecasts indicating that prices might surpass $100 a barrel. Increasing assaults on regional oil and gas facilities, coupled with blocked traffic in a crucial shipping lane, have experts asserting that the actions of the White House and responses from Iran and other oil producers will be pivotal in shaping future prices.

Brent crude prices surged to almost $80 a barrel—a 13 percent increase since Friday—when markets opened on Sunday evening. Tyson Slocum from Public Citizen highlights that the potential risks of the US’s confrontational approach toward Iran had already been integrated into market values, averting an even steeper rise. Nonetheless, the chaotic US reaction post-attack on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has added more unpredictability.

Iran governs the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor. One-fifth of the globe’s oil transits through this route. OPEC nations depend greatly on it to sell their oil. Rory Johnston, a Canadian oil market analyst, mentions that OPEC would typically boost production during a crisis, but its supplies are situated on the opposite side of the conflict zone, limiting its capacity to respond.

Throughout the weekend, while Iran conveyed mixed signals regarding the formal closure of the strait, traffic significantly diminished. Insurance costs for vessels navigating through the strait have surged, and several ships have faced attacks. Johnston characterizes the scenario as a “voluntary closure.”

The likelihood of worsened outcomes persists if regional tensions escalate. In 2019, drone assaults on Saudi oil installations increased oil prices by 15 percent. Similarly, recent drone strikes compelled Saudi Arabia to shutter a refinery, and Qatar’s LNG production was interrupted, triggering a rise in European gas prices. Should these assaults persist, prices may skyrocket.

Clayton Seigle from the Center for Strategic and International Studies cautions that growing Iranian desperation might lead to leveraging energy as a bargaining chip. Should Gulf trade be abandoned or significant oil infrastructure be compromised, prices reaching triple digits could make a comeback.

Alaqad asserts that the loss of on-the-ground journalists equates to a loss of vital truths, as mainstream media outlets dictate the storyline. “Voices that are silenced and censored prevent us from fully grasping events,” she remarks.

During crises, disrupted communication leads to a lack of accountability and overlooked injustices. “Injustice shouts,” Alaqad claims, “while justice must be even louder.”

Journalists encounter ongoing suppression. In December 2025, Reporters Without Borders highlighted the deaths of 67 journalists that year, with 43 percent occurring in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces. Since October 7, 2023, RSF reports over 220 fatalities among journalists in Gaza, whereas the UN reports a figure exceeding 260.

Dagher points out that the media blackout is part of a comprehensive tactic that includes limited movement and communication. Israel refutes the claim of targeting journalists.

“Murders of journalists stifle the truth,” Alaqad states. This leads to several consequences—diminishing on-ground reports and portraying journalists as dangers. “Such a message discourages individuals from interacting with journalists,” she observes.

Her protective press gear signaled her as a target, causing her mother to worry about her safety. Initial warm greetings and hospitality shifted to caution upon witnessing the targeting of journalists, Alaqad reflects.

Operating in Gaza involved navigating unpredictable conditions. Plans seldom extended beyond daylight hours, and circumstances rapidly evolved. “Uncertainty is the sole certainty,” Alaqad notes.

She frequently discovered that those she interviewed were subsequently killed in airstrikes. Now residing in Beirut, she studies media at the American University, backed by the Shireen Abu Akleh scholarship, named in honor of a journalist who lost her life due to Israeli forces.

Her widespread social media presence unveiled the truth of Gaza, yet also put her life at risk. While digital reporting reaches a broad audience, its permanence remains unstable, as accounts and content can vanish in an instant.