The head of the IEA warns that the Strait of Hormuz threatens global energy security Articles of Controversy

Fatih Birol says that ‘oil security is still a critical issue’ and the world should be ‘worried’ if things don’t go well.

The head of the International Energy Agency has warned that the world’s energy security is at serious risk unless the efforts of the United States and Iran improve the flow of oil in the Strait of Hormuz.

Fatih Birol said on Thursday that the world should worry about energy security if things do not improve soon.

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“Oil security is still a major issue,” said Birol, speaking at an event held by the Council on Foreign Relations.

“We have to worry, and I’m worried if things don’t improve in the next few weeks,” he added.

Birol’s comments came after the US stepped up its attacks on Iran, striking for the sixth night in a row, hitting Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz and Iranshahr, and firing on a ship accused of trying to breach its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Tehran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Washington’s allies in the region, targeting Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. An explosion was also reported in Qatar.

The development has also threatened the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed in Pakistan last month with the aim of ending hostilities.

Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reported that US attacks on Iranian coastal cities are intensifying, including two bridges. He also said that Iran is still maintaining its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, referring to what he described as the US’s non-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 Hormozgan province has risen to seven. Iran’s military has also vowed to retaliate against the US military base in Jordan.

“We insist that the US not interfere in the Strait of Hormuz, and withdraw from the area,” Iranian military spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi said.

“The situation in the Strait of Hormuz will never return to what it was before the war,” he added.

“The Strait of Hormuz is under the jurisdiction of Iran and Oman, and no foreign group has the right to interfere in its affairs, especially the United States of America.”

Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan said the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not released an official report on its sixth night strike against Iran.

CENTCOM said that since the Iranian blockade was lifted, five ships have attempted to “run off”. Three were turned over, and one was “disabled”, although CENTCOM did not explain how the soldiers failed.

US Marines also boarded the oil tanker, but it is unclear whether the tanker remains in US custody.

Meanwhile, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said that Iran had destroyed itself.

“What happened recently is because Iran violated the agreement that we made with them; specifically in the MoU that they signed, they were not supposed to shoot at commercial ships going through the Strait of Hormuz,” Leavitt said.

Earlier in the week, US President Donald Trump insisted there was a diplomatic solution to the conflict.