The International Energy Agency has issued a stark warning: the restoration of oil and gas supplies in the Gulf region could take six months.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) issued a stern warning on Friday: the ongoing conflict involving Iran could trigger the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, and the normal flow of oil and gas in the Gulf region could take up to six months to restore. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol stated that policymakers and markets have underestimated the severity of the crisis, which could drive up energy prices and put pressure on global supply chains. The IEA emphasized that supply-side measures alone are insufficient to stabilize the market. In a detailed recommendation, the agency outlined a series of immediately implementable demand-side actions to alleviate consumer pressure and ensure energy security. Given the risk of prolonged supply disruptions, the agency's recommendations highlight the importance of immediate collective action—combining energy efficiency improvements, behavioral changes, and industrial adjustments—to address what it calls "the largest supply disruption in the history of the oil market." (Jinshi)