Here & Now Anytime Why Iran and Israel are targeting energy facilities
Mar 19, 2026
Christine Vittel, a TSA officer at Chicago O'Hare and AFGE local leader, describes airport workers coping without pay. Cristiana Mesquita, AP editor in Havana, reports on Cuba’s severe energy shortages and daily blackouts. Ali Velshi, TV anchor and data reporter, breaks down how strikes on Middle East energy infrastructure ripple through markets and global supply chains.
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Middle East Energy Attacks Ripple Into Global Supply Chains
- Attacks on Middle East oil and gas infrastructure can ripple across global supply chains and everyday prices.
- Ali Velshi explains Strait of Hormuz closures, strikes on Iranian and Qatari facilities, and impacts on oil, fertilizer, and drug ingredient routes.
Brent Spike Pushes Gas Prices And Inflation
- Oil and natural gas prices move together, so rising Brent crude leads to higher gasoline and broader inflation.
- Velshi notes Brent hit $119 and U.S. pump prices were up ~28–30% since the war began, affecting commuting and goods costs.
Strait Disruptions Threaten Food And Medicine Supplies
- Disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz threaten not just oil but fertilizer and pharmaceutical inputs, risking food and medicine shortages.
- Velshi links Indian generic drug production and gel-cap/plastics supply chains to shipments via the region.