Global Protests Erupt as US-Iran War Drives Up Fuel Prices
Global protests erupted as fuel prices soared due to the ongoing US-Iran war. The conflict has led to a sharp increase in energy costs, causing widespread anger among people who cannot afford gas, work, or run their businesses.
The price of oil climbed back above $100 a barrel last week after further US strikes on Iranian oil tankers and renewed fighting in Yemen that threatens shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. In response to the rising costs, governments are scrambling to respond, with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approving a nationwide plan to conserve energy and cut costs.
In Syria, protesters burned tires on a busy highway, while in Guatemala, they blocked roads to demand government action. Similar protests took place in Portugal, where local business leaders and workers marched to the prime minister's home. In France, about 50 fishermen blockaded a fuel depot to protest fuel prices.