The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could trigger global instability, spike oil prices, disrupt trade routes, increase inflation, and strain diplomatic relations, forcing countries like India into comple

Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East until January—charged with, among other things, considering scenarios in which tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into all-out war and preparing U.

The stated intention of the attacks was to stop Iran from building a bomb. Some experts worry it may have the opposite effect.

Israel’s sudden attack on Iran has threatened to disrupt oil supplies in the Middle East, placing the Opec+ cartel’s recent decision to increase crude production into the spotlight. The Saudi Arabia-led producer group has surprised the oil market this year by fast-tracking the return of idled production even as crude prices fell.