The Iran war will change global energy markets in these important ways, oil executives say

Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, May 8, 2026. Stringer | Reuters The world's energy system will change in big ways as a result of the Iran war, the CEOs of key oil and gas companies told investors on their earnings calls over the past two weeks. Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in the loss of nearly a billion barrels of oil, with the shortage growing worse every day the sea lane remains closed. The disruption has demonstrated the fragility of the global energy system, said Olivier Le Peuch, CEO of the big oilfield services company SLB . "It's going to drive fundamental structural change across the energy landscape," said Lorenzo Simonelli, the CEO of Baker Hughes , a competitor of SLB. Governments and industry will prioritize energy security, Le Peuch and Simonelli said. It is "no longer simply a talking point," said Jeffrey Miller, the CEO of Halliburton , the other big oilfield services firm. Investment in oil exploration and production will increase as a consequence, the CEOs said. Low carbon solutions like geothermal, nuclear and grid modernization will continue to see investment, Simonelli said. "It's not just about increasing energy supply," the Baker Hughes CEO said. …