“Everything up in the air”: LNG, the Strait of Hormuz, and Central & Eastern Europe’s energy future
"LNG shipments to Central & Eastern Europe are reliable as long as those gas markets are not overly dependent upon one supplier."
If the Strait of Hormuz completely reopens, it still might not be enough to restart the economies in the Persian Gulf. Many countries there have been hammered by the oil crisis. And although allowing ships through would stanch the immediate bloodletting in the energy sector, other sectors might not spring back so quickly. Tourists are visiting less. Property markets are at risk. On today’s show, we survey the economic damage to countries in the Gulf. And try to get a sense of the long-term economic implications. The Indicator is launching a newsletter! The very first email goes out this Friday. Be among the first and sign-up now: npr.org/newsletter/indicator Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tourRelated episodes: Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look hereHow are drivers riding out the gas crisis? Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work?For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
China had more than a billion barrels of crude oil in reserve when the war in Iran disrupted the market. The country has also spent years diversifying its energy sources and accelerating electrification.
Welcome back to the MBN Iran Briefing. This week: Why Hungary’s ousted leader was Iran’s best friend in Europe. The talks in Islamabad fail to yield a result. And the world holds its breath as the U.S. and Iran stare each other down in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the children of the Iranian elite…
The US-Israeli war against Iran highlights the Gulf’s dual role as the backbone of global energy supply and a major source of systemic risk.
Within days of the initial U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, 2026, the world was plunged into an energy crisis.