IEA Warns Hormuz Disruption Threatens Energy Security

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol has warned that global energy security will remain under serious threat unless oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz resume at significantly higher levels.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, Birol said energy security remains a major global concern and cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further if disruptions persist in the coming weeks.

The Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway between Iran and Oman, has remained largely closed since the conflict erupted on February 28. Before the disruption, the route handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments.

Birol said the prolonged disruption has strained energy markets and affected economies around the world, with Asian countries suffering the greatest impact.

He noted that many Asian economies previously depended on the Strait of Hormuz for 80 to 90 percent of their energy imports.

While advanced economies such as Japan and South Korea have been significantly affected, Birol said developing countries including Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have faced even greater challenges due to supply disruptions and rising energy costs.

He stressed that restoring stable energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz is essential to strengthening global energy security and reducing pressure on international markets.