US-Iran Stalemate Unravels as Oil Prices Soar
The stalemate between the US and Iran is no longer sustainable, with the war expanding to critical parts of the region's energy infrastructure.
The Bab el Mandeb Strait, a vital alternative route for oil and gas shipping, has been taken control of by the Houthis, an Iranian-aligned group in Yemen. This has disrupted global supply chains, pushing oil prices from $70 per barrel in August to over $110 in September.
The East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia was also temporarily disabled after a drone attack, further exacerbating the crisis. The US and its allies cannot protect energy infrastructure indefinitely under threat of attack by Iran and other hostile actors.
A return to diplomacy is now the least bad option, with Washington needing to reach an agreement with Tehran to end the war, including measures to keep vital waterways open.