Iran vs America (today) — brief economy impact:
What happened: The US imposed new sanctions on Iran (Jan 15, 2026) targeting senior officials and networks tied to protest crackdowns + alleged oil-money laundering.
Oil reaction: Oil prices fell ~5% as immediate strike fears eased and markets refocused on supply being okay for now (Brent around $63–65/bbl range in recent updates).
Main global economic effect: Higher volatility + risk premium (oil, shipping, insurance) even without war—this can push fuel costs up/down fast, and makes inflation forecasting harder.
If tensions escalate: biggest hit would be shipping through Strait of Hormuz → oil/gas spike, freight & insurance costs up, pressure on emerging markets and importers.
In 1 line: *Sanctions increased pressure, but markets calmed today—oil dipped; biggest risk is any Hormuz disruption.
