Europe could run out of jet fuel in a matter of weeks as the Iran war continues to disrupt global energy flows, according to the head of the International Energy Agency.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the region has “maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” warning that flight disruptions could begin soon if supplies through the Strait of Hormuz remain blocked.
“In the past, there was a group called ‘Dire Straits.’ It’s a dire strait now, and it is going to have major implications for the global economy,” Birol said in an interview with The Associated Press.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas shipments, has been seized by Iranian forces in an apparent bid to disrupt energy supplies worldwide.
Ongoing conflict has restricted access, leaving tankers unable to move supplies out of the Persian Gulf.
Birol described the situation as “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” with rising prices already impacting global markets.
“The impact will be higher petrol (gasoline) prices, higher gas prices, high electricity prices,” he said.
Europe has “maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” the head of the International Energy Agency said Thursday, warning of possible flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war. https://t.co/hWVVyLQDzp
— ABC News (@ABC) April 16, 2026
More than 110 oil tankers and at least 15 liquefied natural gas carriers are currently waiting in the Gulf, unable to pass through the strait.
Even if the conflict is resolved, Birol warned recovery will take time due to damage to energy infrastructure.
“Over 80 key assets in the region have been damaged. And out of these 80, more than one-third are severely or very severely damaged,” he said.
“It will take gradually, gradually, up to two years to come back where we were before the war.”
Birol also warned against allowing Iran to impose fees on ships passing through the strait, arguing it could set a dangerous precedent for global trade routes.
“If we change it once, it may be difficult to get it back,” he said.
The economic impact is expected to be widespread, with Europe currently handling more than 100,000 flights a day across the continent.
“No country, no country is immune to this crisis,” Birol said.
“In Europe, I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be canceled as a result of lack of jet fuel.”
A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is currently in place, with a second round of negotiations expected to take place in Pakistan in the coming days, though no formal date has been confirmed.
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