Gold Jumps as Middle East Conflict Escalates
2026-03-01 23:29
By
Jam Kaimo Samonte
1 min. read
Gold climbed more than 1% to above $5,370 per ounce on Monday, reaching an over one-month high as safe-haven demand intensified following joint strikes by the US and Israel on Iran over the weekend.
The attacks resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, escalating regional tensions and disrupting maritime traffic in the oil-rich Gulf.
Iran responded with retaliatory strikes against US assets across neighboring countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Syria.
Gold recorded its seventh straight monthly gain in February, the longest streak since 1973, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and US President Trump’s reshaping of international relations.
The rally has also been supported by strong central bank purchases and a broader investor move away from sovereign bonds and currencies.