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[IMF: Iran War Dragging Down Middle Eastern Economic Growth, Impact Unevenly Affected Countries] 1. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday that energy supply disruptions caused by the war in Iran will severely impact the economies of oil and gas exporting countries in the Gulf region. Real GDP growth in the Middle East and North Africa is projected to slow significantly to 1.1% this year, 2.8 percentage points lower than pre-war forecasts, with a recovery expected in 2027. 2. Middle Eastern oil-importing countries such as Egypt and Jordan face the double blow of rising commodity prices and potentially reduced remittances from Gulf workers. Some oil-importing countries are highly dependent on Gulf economies for energy and capital flows; the risks will increase further if the war escalates or becomes protracted. 3. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), composed of six member states, expects its economic growth rate to slow sharply to 2% this year from the 4.3% forecast in October, but will rebound strongly to 4.8% next year. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, will be relatively less affected, with its economic growth rate projected to slow to 3.1% in 2026, 0.9 percentage points lower than the October forecast. 4. IMF Middle East and Central Asia Director Azour pointed out that the war not only affects oil and gas, but also impacts exported products such as fertilizers and chemicals, as well as the strategic position of Gulf states in non-oil sectors such as aviation and logistics. Since the beginning of 2020, the IMF has provided nearly $46 billion in financing to the region and deepened cooperation with countries such as Egypt and Pakistan. 5. Medium-term priorities include diversifying trade routes, strengthening key infrastructure construction, and deepening regional cooperation in the areas of food, water resources, and energy.