Iran War Paving the Way for COVID-19 Style Lockdowns?

Nearly a month into the US-Israeli war against Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for oil transportation is hurting countries around the world. With oil prices going up and no immediate end of the war in sight, several countries have either announced some kind of restrictions on fuel consumption or they are planning for it. And now there are concerns about governments bringing back COVID-19 style lockdowns to deal with serious fuel shortage in their countries.

In the English-speaking world, the fears of government-enforced measures resulting from continued suspension of oil supply due to US-Israel-Iran war have come from Australia. Last week, independent journalist Maria Zee discussed some early reports from Australian media sounding alarm on possible fuel rationing as supply chains strain with some gas stations already limiting the amount of gas drivers can buy.

Maria mentioned New Zealand reviewing emergency laws to put restrictions on driving and imposing fines for violation of the restrictions. And in Sri Lanka, the island country in South Asia, restrictions have already started with airlines limiting flights and the country observing weekly shutdowns in the form of additional public holidays to save fuel. Maria wrote on her X page: “So is this a short-term disruption, or the start of a “COVID 2.0” crisis?”

Subsequent stories from Australia published in The Sydney Morning Herald (March 25 & 26) summarily touched on the measures the Australian government is considering to put in place once the available fuel levels drop below a specific critical amount. The Australian government already has tapped into the country’s strategic stockpiles to release more than 700 million liters of oil supply. The story published in March 26 edition wrote:

The government is now in internal discussions over whether to encourage remote working, greater public transport usage and car-pooling.  

Roman Balmakov of The Epoch Times spoke of COVID-style lockdowns in his March 20 episode of “Fact Matters.” Balmakov reported on the request of Denmark’s government to its citizens to save as much gas as possible. The report also mentioned measures by Thailand and Vietnam toward restricting movement of vehicles run by gas.

There is every possibility of COVID-style restrictions coming to these countries in Asia, Oceania, and Europe if the Iran war drags on for months. But how bad can it get in America where gas prices have climbed up to near $4 a gallon in many places while exceeding $4 in some states? The war is costing people across America at the gas stations with conservatives divided in their response to high gas prices. On the one hand, loyalist MAGA voters are convinced that the Trump administration is right in saying that the war against Iran is better in the long run for America’s national security. On the other hand are critics within the conservative base who believe this war is just being fought for Israel’s political interests and the Trump administration has engaged in betrayal by jumping into it at the cost of American lives and taxpayer money.

On March 25, Blackrock CEO Larry Fink told BBC that he sees a global recession in case the war against Iran doesn’t end soon. The official account of Our Country Our Choice, Col. Douglas Macgregor’s organization, posted a clip from Fink’s interview and called on President Trump to end the war now.

While there is no immediate concern among Americans over COVID-style lockdowns or restricting measures possibly coming to America due to the ongoing Iran war, one thing conservatives can generally agree on is limited government and more people power whether it’s in times of war or peace. They need to make it clear to the current conservative administration in D.C. that the tyrannical mandates inflicted on the nation during the COVID health emergency won’t be welcomed or tolerated in this country.