{"id":59464,"date":"2026-03-05T22:38:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T02:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock\/59464\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T22:38:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T02:38:30","slug":"middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock\/59464\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle East Escalation: Israeli Strikes on Tehran Send Gold to Record Highs as Asia Braces for Energy Shock"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock\/59464\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock\/59464\/#Military_Escalation_and_Humanitarian_Impact\" >Military Escalation and Humanitarian Impact<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock\/59464\/#Market_Reaction_Gold_Surges_TOPIX_Stabilizes\" >Market Reaction: Gold Surges, TOPIX Stabilizes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock\/59464\/#Energy_Crisis_and_Global_Supply_Chains\" >Energy Crisis and Global Supply Chains<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock\/59464\/#Strategic_Shifts_Russia_and_the_%22Patriot%22_Shortage\" >Strategic Shifts: Russia and the &quot;Patriot&quot; Shortage<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-escalation-israeli-strikes-on-tehran-send-gold-to-record-highs-as-asia-braces-for-energy-shock\/59464\/#Regional_Developments\" >Regional Developments<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Israeli and U.S. forces have launched broad-scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in Tehran<\/strong>, marking a significant escalation in the regional conflict.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spot <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/gold-price.aspx\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"gold price today\">gold prices<\/a> surged nearly 1% to $5,125.84\/oz<\/strong> as investors fled to safe-haven assets amid fears of a prolonged Middle Eastern war.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Asian economies are bracing for a severe energy shock<\/strong>, with Bangladesh already paying record spot LNG prices of up to <strong>$28.28 per MMBtu<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Russia emerges as a strategic beneficiary<\/strong> as Iranian missile barrages deplete U.S. stocks of Patriot interceptors urgently needed by Ukraine.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The U.S. Treasury has issued a 30-day waiver<\/strong> allowing Russian oil shipments loaded before March 5 to reach India by April 4 to stabilize global supplies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Military_Escalation_and_Humanitarian_Impact\"><\/span>Military Escalation and Humanitarian Impact<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that it has commenced <strong>broad-scale strikes on Iranian government and terror infrastructure in Tehran<\/strong>. Iranian media reported that both Israeli and American fighter jets were heard over the capital\u2019s skies, signaling the &quot;next phase&quot; of a rapidly widening military campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, a potential humanitarian crisis is unfolding as <strong>U.S. military investigators<\/strong> consider it &quot;likely&quot; that American forces were responsible for a strike on a girls\u2019 school in Minab, southern Iran. While a final determination has not been made, the incident has drawn international condemnation and added pressure on the Biden administration\u2019s regional strategy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Market_Reaction_Gold_Surges_TOPIX_Stabilizes\"><\/span>Market Reaction: Gold Surges, TOPIX Stabilizes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Financial markets reacted sharply to the overnight developments, with <strong>Spot Gold<\/strong> climbing close to 1% to reach <strong>$5,125.84\/oz<\/strong>. Demand for the SPDR Gold Trust (<a href=\"\/stock\/GLD\">GLD<\/a>) remains high as the conflict threatens to disrupt global trade routes and spark broader inflationary pressures.<\/p>\n<p>In Asia, the <strong>TOPIX index<\/strong> in Japan managed to recover from an early-session decline, finishing <strong>0.02% higher<\/strong>. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) advised regional central banks to focus on <strong>market stabilization<\/strong> rather than targeting foreign exchange prices during these &quot;disorderly conditions,&quot; adding that further rate hikes are unlikely in the near term.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Energy_Crisis_and_Global_Supply_Chains\"><\/span>Energy Crisis and Global Supply Chains<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Asia\u2019s largest economies are preparing for a massive <strong>energy shock<\/strong> as the war threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz. Officials in Bangladesh reported paying as much as <strong>$28.28 and $23.08 per MMBtu<\/strong> for spot LNG cargoes, a massive premium over long-term contract rates. Companies like Excelerate Energy (<a href=\"\/stock\/EE\">EE<\/a>) are being closely watched as they facilitate critical fuel deliveries to the region.<\/p>\n<p>To prevent a total collapse in global oil markets, the U.S. has allowed <strong>Russian oil shipments<\/strong> loaded before March 5 to be delivered to India until April 4. This temporary waiver, announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, aims to alleviate the pressure caused by Iran\u2019s attempts to &quot;take global energy hostage.&quot;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Strategic_Shifts_Russia_and_the_%22Patriot%22_Shortage\"><\/span>Strategic Shifts: Russia and the &quot;Patriot&quot; Shortage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to a report by the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em>, <strong>Russia is emerging as a primary winner<\/strong> in the current confrontation. Iranian missile waves are successfully depleting U.S. stocks of <strong>Patriot interceptors<\/strong>, which are manufactured by Lockheed Martin (<a href=\"\/stock\/LMT\">LMT<\/a>) and RTX Corporation (<a href=\"\/stock\/RTX\">RTX<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>This depletion directly impacts <strong>Ukraine\u2019s defense capabilities<\/strong>, as the U.S. is forced to prioritize Middle Eastern assets over European needs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly expressed grave concern that the diversion of these multimillion-dollar interceptors will leave Ukrainian cities more vulnerable to Russian ballistic strikes.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Regional_Developments\"><\/span>Regional Developments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a sign of potential front expansion, <strong>Hezbollah in Lebanon<\/strong> has urged Israeli residents living within 5 kilometers of the border to evacuate their towns. This follows reports that the Qatar Defence Ministry successfully intercepted a drone attack targeting the <strong>U.S. Al Udeid Air Base<\/strong>, the largest American military installation in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>On a diplomatic note, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced that <strong>UAE commercial flights to South Korea<\/strong> are expected to resume on Friday. This development comes as Seoul coordinates the potential evacuation of nearly 3,000 South Korean nationals currently stranded in the Gulf region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Israeli and U.S. forces have launched broad-scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in Tehran, marking a significant escalation in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50383,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_schema_Article":[],"rank_math_focus_keyword":[],"rank_math_description":[],"financial_data_references":[],"stock_symbols_mentioned":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5012],"tags":[1684,4664,4824,5016,5030,10445],"class_list":["post-59464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","tag-gold","tag-iran","tag-geopolitics","tag-israel","tag-energy","tag-adb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59464\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}