Governments must communicate honestly with their citizens about the true severity of the global energy crisis caused by the Iran war, the head of the International Energy Agency has urged. Fatih Birol, speaking in Canberra, said public understanding and support would be essential to implementing the demand-side measures needed to help manage the crisis. He described the emergency as equivalent to the combined force of the 1970s twin oil shocks and the Ukraine gas disruption.
Birol said that working from home, lower highway speed limits, and reduced air travel were practical steps that citizens could take to help reduce pressure on global energy supply. But these measures would only be effective if governments were transparent about why they were needed and how serious the situation truly was. He said public trust was a critical resource in managing any energy emergency.
The conflict began February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran and has since removed 11 million barrels of oil per day and 140 billion cubic metres of gas from world markets. At least 40 Gulf energy assets have been severely damaged, and the Strait of Hormuz — through which approximately 20 percent of global oil flows — remains closed. Birol said these figures surpassed every previous energy crisis in modern history.
The IEA released 400 million barrels from strategic petroleum reserves on March 11 — the largest emergency action in its history — and confirmed further releases were under consideration. Birol met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and said the IEA was in active consultation with governments across Asia, Europe, and North America. He stressed that reserve releases could ease but not resolve the underlying supply emergency.
Iran threatened retaliatory strikes on US and allied energy and water infrastructure after Trump’s ultimatum to reopen the Hormuz strait expired. Birol warned that no economy would be shielded from the consequences of a prolonged crisis. He concluded by urging leaders not to minimize the situation to avoid public alarm, but instead to treat their citizens as partners in navigating a genuine and serious national and global emergency.