"And Paras Destroys the World..."

1 Nissan 5786

Rosh Chodesh

"...and the king of Persia returns and lays waste to the entire world, and the nations of the world are shaken and terrified and fall on their faces, and pangs seize them like the pangs of a woman in labor, and Israel is shaken and terrified."

And now we know how it happens because it happened yesterday...

Iran launched a series of retaliatory strikes against the vital energy infrastructure in nearby Gulf states after Israel hit its largest gas field Wednesday -- a "dangerous escalation" that deepened the crisis and sent oil prices surging.

In response to Israel's initial strike, Iran issued evacuation orders for several energy assets in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying the facilities had become "direct and legitimate targets," according to semi-official Mehr News Agency.

...Among the retaliatory strikes, Iran hit the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Ras Laffan in Qatar -- the most serious attack on the country's energy facilities since the start of the war.  (Source)

 

Based on reports from March 18–19, 2026, Iran hit Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hub, with missiles, causing significant fires and damage. This halted production at the facility—which accounts for ~20% of global supply—forcing QatarEnergy to declare force majeure and disrupting global energy markets.  (Source: Google)

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 Trump, Running Scared, Throws Israel Under the Bus

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Based on developments as of March 2026, the bombing of energy infrastructure—specifically within the Middle East—is causing a severe, immediate, and potentially long-term shock to the global economy. The destruction of key facilities in Iran and Qatar, along with threats to the Strait of Hormuz, has led to a significant supply shock, which analysts say could be on par with the demand disruption during COVID-19.

Key economic fallouts include:

• Surging Energy Prices and Inflation: Oil prices have increased more than 50 percent, with Brent crude surpassing $100–$112 per barrel following attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility and Iranian oil infrastructure. This surge is increasing global inflation and threatening to trigger a "second energy supply shock in just four years," per reports from March 2026.

• Stagflation Risk: The combination of higher energy costs and reduced supply, if sustained, raises the risk of "stagflation"—the combination of high inflation and weak economic growth—which is difficult for central banks to manage. 

• Supply Chain Disruptions & Shipping Shutdowns: The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil trades, has severely hindered maritime traffic. This leads to shortages of fuel, higher insurance premiums, and longer, more expensive shipping routes.

• Industrial Output Curtailment: Energy-intensive industries, especially in Asia and Europe, are slowing down production due to feedstock shortages and high energy costs, with chemicals and plastic output experiencing disruptions.

• Financial Market Volatility: Global stocks, particularly in Asia, have dropped, and investor confidence has weakened as the war raises questions about the security of critical energy infrastructure.

• Long-Term Infrastructure Damage: Analysts warn that damage to production facilities can take years to repair, ensuring that the supply shortages could persist even after hostilities end.

The crisis has led to an unprecedented release of 400 million barrels of oil from global reserves, but even this is expected to only provide temporary relief in the face of structural, intentional destruction of energy assets.  (Source: Google)