Crackdown on Online Activity
The United Arab Emirates is detaining tourists and expatriates for posting or sharing content related to the impacts of the Iran war. As of Thursday, 21 people face charges under the UAE's cybercrime laws. According to Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, the UAE has forbidden taking or sharing imagery that shows Iranian drone or missile impacts.
Detainees and Charges
A 60-year-old British tourist was charged even after deleting a video when asked by authorities. A Filipina domestic worker was detained near the Burj Al Arab tower after officers found an image on her phone. A Vietnamese sailor was detained in Fujairah after allegedly sharing video of missile activity filmed outside UAE territory.
Houthi Threat Looms
Iran's new supreme leader thanked the Houthis for their support and suggested they could join the war. The Houthis warned earlier this week that their "fingers are on the trigger." The Houthis have historically opposed U.S. and Israeli influence in the Middle East.
Oil Market Impacts
The United States has temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil until April 11. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said countries can buy Russian oil already at sea. According to NBC News, the Strait of Hormuz blockade is preventing around 10 million barrels from entering the international market every day. The international benchmark of Brent crude sits just above $100 a barrel.
Global Economic Ripples
Restaurants in India are suffering from disruptions to cooking gas supplies due to the war. Japan announced it would release 80 million barrels of oil from its emergency stockpiles starting March 16. European natural gas posted a weekly decline. Emerging-market assets are heading for their second week of losses.
Political Fallout
Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said the American move to ease sanctions showed that Moscow could not be dislodged from the center of global energy markets. Dmitriev called for "further easing of restrictions on Russian energy resources." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said easing sanctions on Russia was "not the right decision." Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper accused Tehran and Moscow of supporting each other and "attempting to hijack the global economy."
Public Opinion in the U.S.
Six U.S. voters shared their reactions to the war with the BBC. One Trump supporter said he wasn't interested in the war. Another Republican said increased gas prices are a small price to pay for the freedom of millions of Iranians. A Democrat teacher worries about what the conflict could mean for her students and family.
The UAE defense ministry stated its air defenses are "currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones originating from Iran," and that "sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions."
