Drive slower, work from home and ditch the tie: the world responds to Iran war energy crisis

The article says the Iran war has tightened fuel and gas supplies enough to force emergency demand-side measures globally, from urging people to drive less and work from home to fuel rationing, cash handouts and tax cuts. The IEA has already responded by coordinating the release of 400m barrels from strategic reserves last month, but governments are still struggling to contain the price shock after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted oil and seaborne gas flows. Policy responses are diverging sharply. The US is doubling down on fossil-fuel expansion and threatening further strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, while the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are leaning on targeted household support and temporary fuel relief. In Europe, the crisis is accelerating the debate over coal, gas and renewables, with some countries extending coal use and the European Commission proposing changes that would weaken carbon pricing. For precious metals, the direct read-through is macro/geopolitical rather than physical demand: higher energy costs, a weaker growth outlook and persistent war risk are generally supportive for gold as a hedge, but the article does not provide any PM price action, flow data or direct bullion market evidence. The near-term catalyst is whether the Hormuz disruption persists and whether governments shift from crisis management to more aggressive demand restraint or strategic supply measures.