With the worsening situation in Iran, will the oil trade be the very thing that causes war after decades of helping to hold together a global framework of relative peace and tolerance?

It's really nothing to do with oil, for once. The prospect of a nuclear Iran is the cause of the current unrest and that is entirely understandable. The Iranian regime is erratic, extremist and given to throwing its weight around in the region. It has clearly intended to deceive the rest of the world over its nuclear intentions and now seems to be gambling on winning the time to take the final steps towards nuclear weapons with bluster and militaristic rhetoric. I really do believe the world will be a more dangerous place if this regime is allowed to win this showdown.
Matt - Denmark

Well, yes and no. An oil crisis might lead to a war and globalisation certainly is among the originators of the economic crisis, together with bad finance.
Elio Pennisi - Market Analysis