10/03/2026
G7 nations have said they are ready to take "necessary measures" to support the global supply of energy after the US-Israel war with Iran sent oil prices surging.
However, a meeting of G7 finance ministers and the International Energy Agency (IEA) ended without an agreement to release strategic crude reserves.
The oil price reached nearly $120 a barrel on Monday, over fears of a lengthy disruption to supplies, before falling back sharply after President Trump raised hopes the war would soon end.
At the virtual meeting, the option of releasing oil from stockpiles was one of several discussed as Fatih Birol, head of the IEA, said global oil markets "have deteriorated in recent days"
Birol said: "In addition to the challenges of transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a substantial amount of oil production has been curtailed. This is creating significant and growing risks for the market.
"IEA member countries currently hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation."
Following the meeting, French finance minister Roland Lescure said, "we are not there yet," on the question of whether emergency stocks will be released.
If reserves are released it would be the first time since 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement following the meeting, the G7 said: "We stand ready to take necessary measures, including to support global supply of energy such as stockpile release."
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Monday the UK used the meeting to call for "immediate de-escalation" in the Middle East and guaranteed security for ships in the region.
"I stand ready to support a co-ordinated release of collective IEA oil reserves," she added.
Major disruption to energy supplies from the region threatens to push up prices for consumers and businesses around the world. Rising inflation could lead to fewer interest rate cuts by central banks.
About a fifth of the world's oil supply is usually shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. But traffic through the narrow passage has all but halted since the war started more than a week ago.
The US and Israel launched fresh waves of airstrikes across Iran over the weekend, hitting multiple targets including oil depots.
Meanwhile, Iran targeted energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf states. Overnight, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted and destroyed two waves of drones heading towards a major oilfield.
Follow the latest developments on the war in the Middle East
Last week the markets had been relatively relaxed about the seemingly nightmare scenario of millions of barrels of crude and liquefied gas trapped in the Gulf.
But the escalations over the weekend, alongside scenes of destruction of energy infrastructure both in Iran and across the Gulf, saw the markets take rapid fright.
On Monday morning in Asia, the price of Brent crude jumped by more than 25% to touch $119.50 a barrel at one point before dropping below $90 after Trump told CBS the "war is very complete, pretty much".
The US president has previously dismissed concerns about rising oil prices.
On Sunday, he posted on his Truth Social platform: "Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!"
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