Does oil rule the world? The US war on Iran threatens to send oil prices stratospheric, with consequences across the globe. Some think that oil is the most powerful substance ever discovered.
World economy falters over blockade
Oil Wars: The US-Iran conflict in the Strait of Hormuz threatens to destabilise global energy supplies, sending prices soaring and forcing the world to reconsider its reliance on "liquid gold". Glossary
Balaclava - A close-fitting hat covering the neck and face, apart from the eyes.
Strait of Hormuz - A narrow stretch of water between Iran, the UAE and Oman. It connects the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and is thus a vital global shipping route, with 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally passing through the strait.
Viscous - Having a thick, sticky consistency between a solid and a liquid (for example, how honey moves more slowly than water).
Supply - How much of something is available.
Demand - Demand is how much people want to buy something.
Xi Jinping - The president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life.
Hydroelectric - The generation of electricity using the force of moving water, typically by using a dam on a river.
Sustainable - Able to continue over a long time.