The war between the United States and Israel against Iran has led to the largest oil supply disruption in the history of the global energy market. This is stated in a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), published on Thursday and cited by "Politico".
According to the analysis, the key sea route through the Strait of Hormuz - through which about 20% of the world's oil supplies pass - is practically blocked. The flow of crude oil and petroleum products through the Strait has fallen from an estimated 20 million barrels per day to "barely noticeable".
The agency notes that oil prices have fluctuated sharply since the war began, and global markets are feeling serious pressure due to the shortage of raw materials. According to the agency's forecast, global supplies could decrease by about 8 million barrels per day in March, with part of the decline also due to direct damage to energy infrastructure in the region.
The report emphasizes that almost 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products per day are affected by disruptions, and alternative routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz are limited. This creates serious pressure on both producers and consumers of energy around the world.
In an attempt to stabilize the market, member countries of the International Energy Agency have agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves. Meanwhile, the US Central Command reported that US forces were striking Iranian vessels suspected of laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
The administration of President Donald Trump is also discussing the possibility of a naval escort for tankers passing through the strait, as well as providing political risk insurance for the ships.
However, Trump himself downplayed the economic consequences for the US, saying that the country is the world's largest oil producer and that high prices even bring financial benefits. According to him, the main goal remains to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.