IEA chief warns Strait of Hormuz crisis threatens global energy security

Fatih Birol says ‘oil security is still a critical issue’ and the world should be ‘worried’ if the situation does not improve.The head of the International Energy Agency has warned that global energy security is under serious threat unless efforts by the United States and Iran lead to improved oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.Fatih Birol said on Thursday that the world should be concerned about energy security if the situation does not improve soon.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘Safe passage’: The fatal ambiguity at the heart of the Hormuz MoUlist 2 of 3US or Iran — Who needs a new truce deal more?list 3 of 3The hardest party to manage in the Iran talks isn’t Iranend of list“Oil security is still a critical issue,” Birol said, speaking at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations.⁠”We should ⁠be worried, and I am worried if the situation ‌does not improve in the next ‌few weeks,” he added.Birol’s comments came after the US intensified attacks on Iran, carrying out a sixth consecutive night of strikes, hitting Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz and Iranshahr, and firing on a ship it accused of trying to break its reimposed naval blockade on Iranian ports.Tehran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Washington’s allies in the region, targeting Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. Explosions were also reported in Qatar.The escalation has also put at risk a US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed in Pakistan a month ago with the aim of securing a ceasefire.Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reported that US attacks on Iran’s coastal cities were increasingly targeting infrastructure, including two bridges. He also said Iran was maintaining its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing what it described as a lack of US commitment to the memorandum of understanding.Iran’s Fars news agency reported that the death toll from the US attack on the Bandar-e Khamir bridge in the Hormozgan province had risen to seven. Iran’s military also confirmed a retaliatory strike on a US military base in Jordan.