KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran will have a wider spillover impact not only in the Middle East but beyond the region, with potentially negative effects on Southeast Asia in the form of trade disruptions and higher energy costs, according to an analyst.
These disruptions may also pose security risks as sentiments against the United States could lead to instability, Julia Roknifard, a senior lecturer at Taylor's University, told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Noting that a significant portion of global oil and gas exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Julia said that there are no alternatives for energy exports in the area that can fill the gap if the strait is closed, exacerbating the impact on global energy prices. This, in turn, could affect all forms of trade and industries reliant on these commodities, she said.
"Even a minor increase in the price of energy could translate to increased inflation in the region. Higher energy costs are almost always tied to depressed economic performance," she said.
On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched a joint military strike against Iran. Iran immediately retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. military assets across the region. ■
