Francis Tuschek, Kaohsiung
Iran’s decentralized “Mosaic Defense” strategy has intensified regional instability, disrupting global energy flows and raising concerns in Asia over supply security. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has adopted a war of attrition, deploying waves of drones and missiles to overwhelm U.S. and Gulf defenses while targeting energy infrastructure critical to the petrodollar system.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the suspension of Qatar’s LNG exports have already immobilized nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies. Iraq’s second-largest oil field has been shut down, and Gulf defense systems are under strain. Analysts in Taipei warn that prolonged disruptions could drive oil prices sharply higher, threatening Taiwan’s manufacturing competitiveness and energy security.
Iran’s strategy appears aimed at undermining the U.S.-backed petrodollar order. By striking Gulf energy assets, Tehran has triggered financial volatility, with trillions of dollars wiped from global markets in days. Beijing, which has been promoting yuan-based energy trade, is seen as a potential beneficiary of the turmoil, while the BRICS bloc continues to advance plans for alternative financial systems.
Russia has signaled it may redirect gas exports away from Europe, reinforcing the energy realignment. Moscow’s logistical support to Iran, including radar and electronic warfare systems, highlights a tightening partnership between the two countries. For Taiwan, this underscores the growing convergence of powers challenging Western-led systems, with ripple effects across Asia.
Turkey’s intelligence cooperation with Iran, despite NATO membership, illustrates the shifting alliances in the region. Taipei observers note that such hedging complicates Western efforts to isolate Tehran and reflects the erosion of U.S. influence in the Middle East.
Regional analysts say Iran’s asymmetric strategy is designed to prolong the conflict, expand it horizontally, and impose unbearable economic and political stress on its adversaries. With energy corridors and shipping lanes under threat, Asian economies reliant on imports are bracing for prolonged volatility.
For Taiwan, the crisis is a reminder of the fragility of global energy supply chains and the urgency of diversifying sources. Officials in Taipei are closely monitoring developments, aware that the war’s trajectory could reshape both energy markets and financial systems in ways that directly affect the island’s economic resilience.
