World’s Dangerous Reliance on Oil Transforms Fossil Fuels Into Weapons of War |
Support justice-driven, accurate and transparent news — make a quick donation to Truthout today!
Oil prices surged past $100 a barrel this week as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran threatens global energy supplies and the broader economy. Iranian officials say no oil will be allowed to leave the Middle East until the bombardment stops, raising fears of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil and gas flows. This comes as Israel has struck oil depots in Tehran, blanketing the capital in smoke and toxic rain.
“What we’re seeing is just one of the clearest depictions yet of the frailty of a global order that is grounded in fossil fuels. All sides in this war are using fossil fuels as a weapon of war,” says independent investigative journalist Antonia Juhasz, who reports on energy and climate.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.
Fear is mounting over the fate of worldwide energy markets and the global economy as oil prices on Monday soared to nearly $120 per barrel due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, before dropping. Iranian officials have said no oil would be allowed out of the Middle East until the bombardments cease, with President Trump Monday threatening to hit Iran, quote, “20 times harder” if it continues to block the passage of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with CBS yesterday, Trump said he’s also considering taking over the strait. During a news conference earlier today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made similar threats, saying Iran would be attacked, quote, “harder than ever,” unquote, if it continues to disrupt the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has retaliated by targeting energy infrastructure and U.S. military bases across Gulf nations.
Trump’s War With Iran Is a Boon for the US Gas Export Industry
For more, we go to Washington, D.C., where we’re joined by Antonia Juhasz, independent investigative journalist, regular Rolling Stone politics reporter, author of several books on fossil fuel industry, including The Bush Agenda and The Tyranny of Oil.
Antonia, you have long reported on wars for oil. Talk about what’s happening here. And it doesn’t just involve the Gulf. It........