Iran war's ripple effect: How a distant conflict is reshaping lives around the world

Hanoi, Vietnam: Thousands of miles from the battlefield, the war in Iran is leaving a mark on everyday life across the globe. What began as a conflict in the Middle East quickly spread through global energy markets, driving up fuel prices and increasing costs for transport, food production and businesses. The effects are now being felt by families, workers and small business owners from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas. The United Nations Development Programme has warned that a severe shock to the global energy system could push an additional 45 million people into poverty. For many, the impact has arrived not through headlines about military action, but through rising living costs, shrinking incomes and difficult personal choices. Philippines: Fuel costs leave driver struggling to survive In Manila, jeepney driver Edgar Funelas has been unable to afford the diesel needed to operate his vehicle. Already displaced after a fire destroyed his home, Funelas and his 10-year-old daughter now live inside the jeepney. With no income for days, he relies on occasional odd jobs and the generosity of others for food. Before the war, he earned about $8 a day, sometimes more. Today, he hopes only for enough work to buy basic necessities. “This is what we do — coping and hoping prices will get lower,” he said. “Hoping that the war will end.” United States: Families feel pressure at the petrol pump In New York, Marlyn Garcia is carefully balancing work, family responsibilities and household expenses as petrol prices rise. The 25-year-old relies on food assistance programmes to help support her family while stretching every dollar spent on fuel. Her household shares a single car, making rising transport costs increasingly difficult to manage. Despite the challenges, Garcia continues taking extra work shifts and hopes to attend graduate school in the future. “They shouldn't suffer because of whatever is going on around the world,” she said of her children. Nigeria: Printing business squeezed by rising costs In Lagos, Oluwatosin Awodunmila and her husband are struggling to keep their printing business operating. With unreliable electricity supplies, businesses often rely on generators. Since the war began, fuel prices have surged, significantly increasing operating costs. The business has extended delivery times because running the generator can wipe out most of its daily profits. “My biggest wish right now is a 24-hour supply of electricity and the war in Iran to end,” Awodunmila said. Nepal: A mother's anxiety grows In Kathmandu, a 54-year-old mother worries about her son, who has returned to work in the Middle East. Reports of regional instability and attacks in the Middle East have made his departure more difficult than previous trips. The family's financial wellbeing depends heavily on his overseas income, leaving her torn between concern for his safety and the need for him to continue working abroad. “We can't just say, don't go,” she said. “But at the same time, it is necessary that he goes.” Chile: Taxi drivers struggle with soaring fuel prices Santiago taxi driver Felipe Molina says rising diesel prices have turned every working day into a financial challenge. Fuel costs have increased sharply, while competition from ride-hailing services continues to pressure earnings. Because taxi fares are regulated, drivers have little ability to pass higher costs on to customers. “In the end, we spend hours on the road without picking anyone up, and the fuel keeps running out,” Molina said. Türkiye: Tourism slowdown hits carpet trader In Istanbul, carpet seller Ali Osman Aykul says business has almost disappeared since the conflict began. International visitors, particularly from Gulf countries, have largely stopped travelling, causing sales to plunge. The shop owner is cutting personal spending and exploring overseas opportunities as he waits for trade to recover. “After a while, it starts to weigh on you every day,” he said. Italy: Farming becomes more difficult Outside Rome, farmer Enzo Garbaglia is facing higher costs for fuel, fertiliser and irrigation. While expenses have risen considerably, customers are also under pressure, reducing demand and limiting how much producers can charge. After more than a century of family farming, Garbaglia fears the business may end with his generation. “One hundred and five years of history can't be sold,” he said. “When it ends, it ends. That's it.” The stories differ, but the common thread is clear: a conflict thousands of kilometres away is reshaping daily life for people who have never been near the battlefield, illustrating how closely connected the global economy remains to energy markets and geopolitical events.