{"id":60188,"date":"2026-03-25T23:38:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T03:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-plunge-as-israel-strikes-iran-adnoc-chief-slams-strait-of-hormuz-economic-terrorism\/60188\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T23:38:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T03:38:26","slug":"global-markets-plunge-as-israel-strikes-iran-adnoc-chief-slams-strait-of-hormuz-economic-terrorism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-plunge-as-israel-strikes-iran-adnoc-chief-slams-strait-of-hormuz-economic-terrorism\/60188\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets Plunge as Israel Strikes Iran; ADNOC Chief Slams Strait of Hormuz &#8220;Economic Terrorism&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Israel launched extensive strikes on Iranian missile production sites and naval bases<\/strong>, marking a significant escalation in a conflict that has already disrupted global energy supplies for nearly a month.<\/li>\n<li><strong>ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber labeled the weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz as &quot;economic terrorism,&quot;<\/strong> warning that holding the waterway &quot;hostage&quot; is driving a 50% surge in oil prices and destabilizing the global economy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iran\u2019s parliament is advancing legislation to impose transit tolls of up to $2 million per vessel<\/strong> in the Strait, a move that maritime experts warn could permanently alter international shipping costs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Global equity markets are in a sharp retreat<\/strong>, with South Korea\u2019s <strong>KOSPI sliding 3.3%<\/strong> and U.S. futures falling as investors flee to safe-haven assets amid heightened geopolitical risk.<\/li>\n<li><strong>JP Morgan slashed its price target for Paychex (<a href=\"\/stock\/PAYX\">PAYX<\/a>) to $100 from $125<\/strong>, citing a &quot;challenging macroeconomic environment&quot; and persistent inflationary pressures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Military Escalation Triggers Market Panic<\/h2>\n<p>The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a series of <strong>extensive attacks on multiple Iranian targets<\/strong> early Thursday, focusing on naval cruise missile production sites in <strong>Tehran<\/strong> and military bases in <strong>Shiraz and Qazvin<\/strong>. These strikes come as the regional conflict enters its fourth week, following the start of &quot;Operation Roaring Lion&quot; in late February.<\/p>\n<p>The military escalation has sent shockwaves through global financial centers. South Korea\u2019s <strong>KOSPI index tumbled 3.3% to 5,453.67<\/strong>, while European and U.S. futures signaled a deep opening in the red. <strong>EuroStoxx 50 futures dropped 0.6%<\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/markets\/sp500\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"snp500 today\">S&amp;P 500<\/a> E-Minis fell 0.4%<\/strong> as traders braced for a potential Iranian retaliation.<\/p>\n<h2>ADNOC Chief Warns of &quot;Economic Terrorism&quot;<\/h2>\n<p>Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), issued a blistering critique of the situation in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, calling the disruption of the waterway &quot;economic terrorism against every nation.&quot; Speaking at a high-level energy summit, Al Jaber noted that <strong>oil prices have risen by 50% in just three weeks<\/strong>, raising the cost of living for families worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>Al Jaber emphasized that the &quot;hostage situation&quot; in the Strait\u2014where approximately one-fifth of the world&#39;s oil and gas transits\u2014is not merely a supply issue but a global security crisis. He urged the international community to ensure the waterway remains open, stating that <strong>&quot;no country should be allowed to hold Hormuz hostage.&quot;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Iran Moves to Formalize Shipping Tolls<\/h2>\n<p>Adding to the economic uncertainty, the <strong>Iranian parliament is seeking to pass a law<\/strong> that would allow the collection of tolls for ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that Tehran is considering <strong>fees as high as $2 million per trip<\/strong> for commercial vessels, effectively monetizing its geographic control over the chokepoint.<\/p>\n<p>While some informal tolls have reportedly been collected on a case-by-case basis, formalizing these charges would set a precedent that challenges international maritime law. <em>Analysts suggest that such a move would permanently increase freight and insurance premiums, further fueling global inflationary trends.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Corporate and Currency Impact<\/h2>\n<p>In the corporate sector, JP Morgan analysts significantly reduced their outlook for Paychex (<a href=\"\/stock\/PAYX\">PAYX<\/a>), <strong>cutting the target price to $100 from $125<\/strong>. The downgrade reflects concerns over slowing growth and the broader impact of Middle East tensions on the U.S. labor market and service sectors.<\/p>\n<p>On the currency front, the <strong>Japanese Yen (JPY)<\/strong> continues to hover near its year-to-date low against the USD. Despite its traditional status as a safe-haven, the Yen is under pressure due to fears of a prolonged energy crisis and potential government intervention to stabilize the currency amid the regional turmoil.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Israel launched extensive strikes on Iranian missile production sites and naval bases, marking a significant escalation in a 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