Last updated: 2026-03-02 20:16:59 ET
Pulse AI Brief
Updated Mar 2, 2026 8:00 PM ET
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, leaving Iran's power structure in flux as U.S. and Israeli strikes continue into a third day. All three nations are signaling preparation for weeks of sustained conflict, with no ceasefire framework on the table and Iran's divided opposition facing a long road to any coherent leadership transition.
Defense stocks including Palantir (PLTR) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) are rallying as analysts call spending "more urgent and less controversial." Broader equity markets are under pressure, with financial planners flagging short-term volatility windows as the conflict drags on.
A leaderless Iran mid-conflict is an unpredictable Iran — the succession vacuum could either accelerate a negotiated pause or trigger escalatory action from hardline factions seeking to assert control.
Tehran's retaliation in response to US and Israeli strikes has disrupted global oil supply, as it hit production facilities in neighboring countries...
Oil prices could move higher still if Iran targets Persian Gulf energy infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz closure is prolonged.
A near-halt to shipping in strait of Hormuz and attacks on Middle East refineries are threatening supplies and stoking inflationNils Pratley: A gas sh...
Not looking good...
Oil and gas prices have jumped, but not as high as one might expect.
How the US-Iran conflict could affect your gas prices. ⛽️
QatarEnergy says it has halted production of liquefied natural gas after attacks on Ras Laffan and Mesaieed sitesBusiness live – latest updatesUS-Is...
Qatar said it had halted production of liquefied natural gas, forcing buyers to compete for supplies elsewhere.
U.S. motorists could soon see higher prices at the pump as oil prices surge following the attacks in Iran.
The war in the Mideast has effectively halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to push up gas prices and raise the cost of other goods.
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