---
title: "Strikes on Oil and Gas Sites by Israel and Iran Shake Global Markets, Experts Say"
date: 2026-03-19
modified: 2026-03-20
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/2026/03/19/israel-iran-strikes-oil-gas-markets/
categories:
  - "Business"
  - "World"
tags:
  - "Iran"
  - "Israel"
  - "oil markets"
  - "Persian Gulf"
  - "Susan Ziadeh"
---

# Strikes on Oil and Gas Sites by Israel and Iran Shake Global Markets, Experts Say

## What Happened

Israeli and Iranian strikes on oil and gas facilities have unsettled global markets, prompting concern among energy traders and regional observers. The incidents — and their wider economic ripple effects — were the focus of a recent conversation on PBS between anchor Geoff Bennett and Susan Ziadeh, a former U.S. ambassador to Qatar and now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

## Key Details from the Interview

In the PBS segment, Ziadeh discussed the number of petroleum facilities that have been struck and examined how countries in the Persian Gulf are viewing the war in Iran. The discussion reviewed the regional political implications and the vulnerabilities of energy infrastructure but did not present new independent tallies beyond ongoing reporting.

## Background

Attacks on oil and gas installations in the Middle East can have outsized effects on global supply expectations and market sentiment. The PBS interview sought to place recent strikes in the context of broader regional dynamics, including how Gulf states are calibrating responses amid heightened tensions involving Israel and Iran.

## What This Means

Market volatility tied to energy infrastructure attacks can translate into higher energy prices and insurance costs, and can complicate trade flows. For Panama and Latin America, disruptions in global energy markets matter indirectly: higher fuel prices increase transport and shipping costs, including for goods transiting the Panama Canal, and can affect import bills for energy-dependent economies. Financial market jitters may also influence commodity and currency markets across the region.

Ziadeh’s perspective, given her experience as U.S. ambassador to Qatar and her current role at CSIS, offered context on how Gulf states are balancing security, diplomacy and economic interests as the situation evolves. Observers say continued attacks on infrastructure could prolong uncertainty in global energy markets and maintain pressure on prices.