Iran has warned that it will target energy and water infrastructure across the Persian Gulf if the United States follows through on threats to destroy Iranian power plants, raising fears of widespread disruption in a region heavily reliant on desalination for drinking water. The warning from Tehran comes as the International Energy Agency (IEA) chief Fatih Birol described the current energy crisis as more severe than the oil shocks of 1973 and 1979 combined.
According to Iranian officials, any attack on Iran's electricity grid could be met with retaliation against Gulf neighbours, which consume around five times as much power per capita. Electricity powers desalination plants that provide 100% of drinking water in Bahrain and Qatar, over 80% in the United Arab Emirates, and 50% in Saudi Arabia, making the region particularly vulnerable to such strikes.
The IEA reported that at least 40 energy assets across nine Middle Eastern countries have been severely damaged in the ongoing conflict. Birol noted that the world has lost about 11 million barrels per day of oil supply, exceeding the combined losses of the 1973 and 1979 oil crises. He also highlighted a loss of 140 billion cubic metres of gas, twice the amount lost after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it had launched extensive strikes on Tehran targeting Iranian infrastructure, with blasts reported in the capital. Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said it intercepted two ballistic missiles fired towards Riyadh and destroyed a drone in the eastern region. The US has warned Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution amid rising tensions.
Birol recommended energy reduction measures, including working from home, reducing speed limits, and cutting air travel, based on lessons from previous crises. He urged governments to adopt these measures to mitigate the impact, noting that several countries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific have already implemented some of them.
