Iran war: new warnings on both sides, oil prices rise again
What happened: This is an update to yesterday's story. On 11 November, Israeli media reported that Israel's security cabinet ordered the military to step up preparations for a possible attack on Iran, Al Jazeera said. Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei said that if the US starts another war, military bases involved "from West Asia to Europe" would be targets. Iran's chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, told Al Jazeera that Iran is open to a deal and "the ball is now in the American court". Iran rejected a US proposal to move its enriched uranium to another country, while Qatar continues to mediate and the US naval blockade stays in place.
What it means for you: Al Jazeera reported that oil prices rose on 11 November after Iran rejected the proposal, with Brent crude settling at $92.76 a barrel. Oil prices feed into fuel, fares and shipping costs in every country, including Canada, the US, the Philippines, China, Japan and South Korea, which all import energy or goods that move by sea. It is not known whether the talks will move forward or the conflict will grow, so prices may keep changing.
What you can do:
- Keep some room in your budget for higher fuel and delivery costs over the next few months.
- Before any travel to the Middle East, check your country's official advisory: travel.gc.ca, travel.state.gov, dfa.gov.ph, anzen.mofa.go.jp, 0404.go.kr or cs.mfa.gov.cn.
- If family members work in the Gulf, make sure they are registered with their embassy and know how to reach it.
- Be careful with urgent "donation" or "evacuation" appeals online. Check the group through official channels before giving money or personal details.
Learn more: Personal Finance Basics; Spotting Money Scams