A deepening conflict in the Persian Gulf has severely disrupted Iran's natural gas exports, forcing major energy consumers to revert to coal despite its environmental drawbacks. The Persian Gulf conflict has created significant supply uncertainty, pushing countries heavily reliant on Iranian gas to seek alternative, less clean sources. Coal demand is experiencing its most substantial increase in years as a result, according to Bloomberg Markets. This shift represents a significant setback for global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition away from fossil fuels. The immediate business impact involves increased costs for energy-intensive industries and potential renegotiations of long-term supply contracts with other suppliers.