Senior US oil executives have warned President Donald Trump’s administration that the Iran war could deepen the global energy crisis as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz continues to squeeze supply and keep oil prices elevated. The executives told top administration officials that the conflict may create a longer period of instability for crude and refined fuel markets if shipping in the Gulf remains constrained.
The warning comes at a sensitive moment for global markets. Brent crude traded above $104 a barrel on March 16, while US benchmark crude approached $100. Both contracts have posted gains of more than 40% this month as the conflict involving Iran has disrupted a vital export route for oil and gas.
The executives raised their concerns in meetings with Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. They said continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could keep markets volatile and push the energy shock into a longer phase. Their message focused on the risk of tighter supply, stronger price swings, and rising pressure on fuel consumers if the fighting continues.
The administration has tried to contain the impact through emergency policy tools. Those steps include reserve releases and efforts to redirect some regional supply. However, officials and market participants still see the reopening of normal Gulf shipping as the main factor that could ease pressure in a lasting way.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis because it carries a major share of global oil trade. Current estimates show that about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply normally passes through the route. The latest disruption has blocked millions of barrels a day from international markets and raised fears of broader shortages across Asia and other import-dependent regions.
Trump has urged other countries to help secure the strait and restore commercial traffic. Yet no major power has publicly committed naval support so far. Some governments have instead focused on consultations or direct diplomatic engagement with Iran to move selected shipments through the waterway. That uneven response has added to uncertainty over how soon normal flows can resume.
The International Energy Agency has announced a coordinated release of more than 400 million barrels from emergency reserves to help steady the market. The move marks the largest release in the agency’s history and aims to soften the impact of supply losses linked to the conflict.
Even so, emergency reserves can only reduce part of the strain. Market data show that around 15 million barrels per day of Middle Eastern oil have been blocked from markets, while fuel prices have risen sharply in several regions.
As a result, traders continue to focus on whether Gulf shipping can return to normal in the coming days. Until that happens, the warning from US oil chiefs points to a clear risk for global markets: prolonged supply stress, elevated crude prices, and wider pressure on growth.