finance Mar 01, 2026

Global week ahead: Operation Epic Fury means new risks for markets

C

CNBC Finance

4 min read
Key Points
  • Investors brace for a wave of volatility following the attacks on Iran.
  • Middle East markets sink, while some remain closed during Sunday's trade.
  • Oil markets in focus following OPEC's output increase and significant disruption through Strait of Hormuz.
  • Air travel across the Middle East suspended and global flight paths impacted.
Thick plumes of smoke rise over the residential areas of the Iranian capital following airstrikes amid ongoing U.S.â"Israel attacks as multiple explosions are heard across the city in Tehran, Iran on March 01, 2026.
Fatemeh Bahrami/ | Anadolu | Getty Images

We hear it all the time on CNBC — markets hate uncertainty, and the events over the last 48 hours have changed the face of international politics in a way that will leave investors across the globe scrambling to understand the ramifications.

The coordinated strikes on Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces — Operation Epic Fury — have upended a global order in place since the end of World War II and triggered a new era of politics, not just in the Middle East, but between international allies and adversaries alike.

For the latest developments, follow CNBC's live updates:

This is CNBC's live blog covering the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, and Tehran's counterattacks across the Middle East. CNBC's reporters are covering the strikes from our bureaus in Washington, London, Singapore, San Francisco, and Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Head here for the previous day's updates.

" featuredcontent="

What you need to know

  • Three U.S. service members have been killed in Iran operation.
  • Thousands of flights have been cancelled since the conflict in Iran began
  • Congress aims to vote on war powers resolution in the coming week.
  • Insurers are raising prices for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which raises the price of oil. 

President Donald Trump said he will "avenge" the deaths of three U.S. service members and said the combat operations in Iran that began Saturday will continue. Trump spoke in a pre-recorded Truth Social post Sunday afternoon.

Trump earlier Sunday told CNBC's Joe Kernen that U.S. military operations in Iran are "ahead of schedule."

The president's comments come as Iran's retaliation is intensifying after U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering one of the most consequential moments for the Islamic Republic since 1979. The massive attack was launched on Iran overnight Saturday, after Iran refused American demands that it reduce its nuclear program.

Markets, policymakers and regional leaders are now watching closely to see how far the conflict spreads, and whether the power shift in Tehran alters Iran's political trajectory or further entrenches its security-first stance.

CORRECTION: A blog headline has been updated to clarify that senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafihas was appointed to Iran's interim Leadership Council.

" coverageenddate="2026-03-02T22:20:16+0000" relation="[object Object]">

How will markets and investors react? What are knee-jerk reactions versus longer-term adjustments that will need to be made to investment strategies?

Here are some of the assets to watch over the week.

Sell-off in the Middle East

Stock markets across the Middle East came under pressure on Sunday, in the first trading session for equities since the attack. Saudi Arabia's Tadawul, Oman's Muscat index and Bahrain's exchange all traded in the red, while many of the other markets in the region did not open. Indexes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Israel are set to resume trading Monday. The impact is expected to reverberate across global markets.

The oil trade

Oil markets will be the epicenter of volatility in the wake of the attacks. Traders are predicting that the Brent crude price will spike above $80 a barrel, according to Verisk Maplecroft. The outlook comes despite OPEC's recent decision to increase output earlier and by more than previously planned.

Oil prices expected to spike following Operation Epic Fury

Strait of Hormuz disruption

Oil price volatility will be exacerbated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Global shipping companies, including Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and others, have suspended all vessel transit through the route until further notice. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed to have struck a number of oil tankers in the Gulf in retaliatory strikes. It was unclear when the strait would reopen. Some vessels were being rerouted around Africa, adding time and cost to shipments.

Airline chaos

There has been a huge disruption to air travel, with almost all the Middle East region's airspace closed since the strikes began. Over 1,500 flights were cancelled across the region Sunday, while flight-tracking site FlightAware said more than 19,000 flights had been delayed globally. Airlines are expected to remain under pressure as carriers work to reopen routes and arrange repatriation flights.

AI and Iran

The strikes also intersected with the market's broader focus on artificial intelligence. Until recently, investors had centered on AI's potential to reshape industries worldwide. While that theme may seem far removed from events in Iran, there appears to be an overlap between the two. According to a report from Axios, the U.S. military used Anthropic's Claude AI technology to support its strikes on Iran, even as the company was blacklisted by the Pentagon over how its technology is used. Anthropic has resisted Pentagon demands to allow unrestricted military use of Claude, and the Defense Department has moved to label the company a "supply chain risk" over that dispute.

What comes next

What the rest of the week will bring remains unclear. President Donald Trump told CNBC's Joe Kernen that U.S. military operations in Iran are "ahead of schedule." In a market spooked by uncertainty, it will be the 'known unknowns' that keep investors on edge.

Get Gold Price Tracker & Alerts

Free on iOS & Android

Install