South Korean officials have warned that the US-Israel war with Iran could hit the global semiconductor supply chain if it disrupts the flow of critical industrial materials from the Middle East.

South Korea’s semiconductor sector, led by giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, produces about two-thirds of the world’s memory chips. If the Middle East’s supply of chipmaking materials is disrupted, semiconductor production could slow unless alternative sources are found quickly.

The Helium Problem

One material at risk is helium, which is essential in chip manufacturing for managing heat, detecting leaks, and maintaining stable temperatures in fabrication equipment. For many of these uses, there is no real substitute.

About 38 percent of the world’s helium is produced by Qatar, where large extraction facilities are tied to the natural gas industry. This concentration means that disruptions can quickly ripple through the global supply chain.

National oil company QatarEnergy declared force majeure on March 4, after stopping its gas production and downstream operations due to ongoing attacks. Downstream facilities turn gas into other products, including urea, polymers, methanol, and aluminum.

South Korea’s Industry Ministry said the country also depends on the Middle East for 14 other materials in chipmaking, such as bromine and some chip-inspection equipment. While some of these materials can be sourced domestically or from other markets, shifting suppliers in the semiconductor sector is difficult because chipmakers need to test and validate new sources to meet strict purity standards.

Companies say the situation is manageable for now. As reported by Reuters, SK Hynix said it has secured diverse supply chains and maintains sufficient helium inventories, adding that there is “almost no chance” its operations would be affected in the near term.

Contract chipmaker TSMC similarly said it does not currently anticipate a significant impact, while GlobalFoundries stated it is in direct contact with suppliers and has mitigation plans in place.

Stuck in Transit

Even if Qatar’s gas production restarts, the semiconductor industry is vulnerable to disruptions in regional shipping routes. Much of the world’s energy and petrochemical exports from the Persian Gulf pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime choke point.

If shipping through this corridor is interrupted for an extended period, it could slow the movement of industrial gases and petrochemicals that chipmakers rely on. Disruptions to oil and gas exports from the region have also already pushed global energy prices higher: Brent crude, the European benchmark, is priced at $80 per barrel at the time of publication.

Energy costs are a major factor in semiconductor production. Fabrication plants run large clean rooms that need constant electricity and cooling, so chipmakers are sensitive to changes in global energy prices. Industry representatives in South Korea warned that a prolonged conflict could push energy prices higher, likely leading to higher semiconductor production costs and potentially higher chip prices.

These risks come as semiconductor supply chains are already stretched by growing demand from AI computing. Chip demand from AI data center operators has tightened supply across several electronics sectors, including smartphones, laptops, and automobiles.

A Long-Term Problem

For now, the immediate impact on chip production is unclear. Major chipmakers usually maintain a mix of suppliers and stockpile specialty gases and chemicals to help weather short-term disruptions.

But if instability in the region continues, pressure on supply chains will likely grow. A drawn-out conflict that hits energy infrastructure, export facilities, or shipping routes could slowly squeeze the global supply of materials needed for chipmaking.

This could delay plans by major technology companies to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure in the Middle East. Firms such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia have been positioning the UAE as a hub for AI computing capacity.

This story originally appeared on WIRED Middle East.

Chances are that when you google “mattress store near me,” one of the first results you will see is Mattress Firm. This brick and mortar titan carries both established mattress brands like Serta and Sealy, as well as many online brands, like Purple, letting you go see for yourself if it’ll be the mattress for you. And if you were looking for an excuse to hop in the car and head over, we have a Mattress Firm coupon available right now, as well as tons of Mattress Firm promo codes to save big on those big (and small) purchases. Fingers crossed that you could start sleeping better, potentially as soon as tonight.

Upgrade Your Sleep Sale: Save Up to $600 (Plus Get a Free Adjustable Base)

This year, Mattress Firm wants to make it even easier (and more affordable) to upgrade your sleep with the Upgrade Your Sleep Sale. During this sale, you can save up to $600 and get a free adjustable base included on select mattresses, through April 28. You’ll receive a free Sleepy’s Basic adjustable base (a $300 value) with select mattress purchases—this means a free queen adjustable base with a  minimum $499 purchase, or free king adjustable base with minimum $599 purchase.

Get 15% Off When You Sign Up for Emails

To make sure you never miss out on Mattress Firm discount codes, you can sign up for email notifications. By doing so, you automatically get one! You can get an extra 15% off on your first order. Heads up that it can’t be combined with other coupons, nor can it be applied to specific brands and models, including Nectar, Purple, Sealy Hybrid, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and Serta iComfort.

Free Adjustable Base (Up to $499 Value) With Select Mattresses

First and foremost, make sure you have or are getting a mattress that’s compatible with an adjustable base. If you’re all set bed-wise, but have been looking for the right time to buy an adjustable base, consider this your sign: select mattresses come with a free adjustable base (up to $499 value). At last, you can sit up in bed or kick up your feet to your heart’s content.

Score Up to $300 in Instant Credits and Gifts

Mattress Firm’s got a gift for you, just ‘cuz. For those eyeballing Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, and Sterns & Foster in particular, it’s your lucky day, as there are Mattress Firm coupon codes for all three of these brands.

Starting with Tempur-Pedic, when you buy a qualifying Tempur-Pedic mattress, you can receive a $300 Instant Credit on these adjustable bases: Tempur-Ergo, Tempur-Ergo Smart Base, Tempur-Ergo ProSmart Base, Tempur-Ergo ProSmart Air Base, or the Sealy Ease Base. Use code TEMPURGIFT. You can also get a $300 credit toward these same adjustable bases when you purchase a qualifying Stearns & Foster mattress: use code STEARNSGIFT at checkout.

Lastly, if you wanted to pair a Sealy mattress with the Sealy Ease adjustable base (or any of the aforementioned adjustable bases), there’s a Mattress Firm coupon for that, too. Use code SEALYGIFT at checkout, and get a $200 Instant Credit on select Sealy and Tempur-Pedic adjustable bases.

Take 20% Off With Military, Medical, Student, or Teacher Discounts

Sleep is a necessity for everyone. But for those who work all day on their feet, and have to be dialed in at all times, sleep is critical. This is especially true for first responders, nurses, doctors, and medical professionals. As a way to say “thank you” for all that you do, there’s a special mattress firm discount just for you. Use the Mattress Firm first responder discount for 20% off select purchases. It’s for one-time use, but renews every 90 days when you re-verify your status.

For military members, as a way to thank you for your service, you can use the Mattress Firm military discount for 20% off select purchases as well. It’s a one-time use code, but re-verify your status every 90 days, and you can get a new one!

If you’re a teacher or student, there’s also a Mattress Firm discount for you, too. To help you bounce back after long days teaching, or late nights studying, use this Mattress Firm student discount code for 20% off select purchases. Like the first responder and military coupons, it’s a one-time usage code that can be renewed every 90 days when you re-verify your status.

On February 28, United States and Israeli forces launched a series of strikes on Iran, kicking off turmoil in the Middle East.

Pete Hegseth, the secretary of the Department of Defense, said in a recent press conference that the operation could last as long as eight weeks. President Donald Trump himself said in a press conference on March 2 that the administration projected the operation would last four or five weeks but had “the capability to go far longer than that.”

This week Iran has responded in turn, attacking Israel, regional US embassies and military bases, and other sites across the Middle East. Iran has peppered neighboring countries with hundreds of drone and ballistic missile strikes since the operation began. While many of these have been intercepted, over a thousand people have died in the region and multiple buildings have been damaged, including luxury hotels in Dubai, US military bases and embassies, and international airports and marine ports.

Israel has also started bombarding Lebanon, following strikes at the country by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The Trump administration has given various, and at times seemingly contradictory, justifications for the military action, citing everything from potential “nuclear threat” to unverified claims that Iran attempted to interfere in the 2020 and 2024 US presidential elections. As of March 5, Congress, which in the US has the sole power to declare war, has not done so.

The attacks have already disrupted supply chains, creating uncertainty for the oil and gas and fertilizer industries as key infrastructure has been targeted or shut down out of caution. Shipping traffic has halted along the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route.

As the conflict continues to escalate and expand, WIRED is tracking which countries have been affected and how. This article was last updated on March 5.