LISTEN: Iran war's impact on South Africa to stretch wider than fuel prices
In the middle of the day on Saturday, it began raining fire on the streets of Iran. The country's leaders had just returned from Switzerland, where they felt they had made progress on a deal with the United States. They were sure tensions with the US were dissipating, but alas, it was not.
The US and Israeli military had started a ‘preventative war’ with overwhelming strikes on the Middle Eastern nation. Iran’s top leaders, including the Ayatollah, were killed in the strikes. This led to an indiscriminate response from neighbouring countries that host US military bases or have friendly relations with the country. Israel also came under fire from Iranian rockets.
Iran, which controls an essential oil transport route known as the Strait of Hormuz, has since closed it, making it impossible for some oil-producing nations to sell their oil. This has caused crude oil prices to skyrocket.
Jacaranda FM Newswatch's Emile Pienaar spoke with Daniel Silke, Director of the Political Futures Consultancy in Cape Town.