Iran's Strait of Hormuz Closure and Gulf Strikes Disrupt Global Energy, Pushing Asia Back to Coal

After US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February 2026, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz — through which a fifth of global oil and gas once flowed — and attacked Gulf energy infrastructure, including Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG complex. Seventeen percent of Qatari LNG exports were knocked out. Japan lifted restrictions on high-emission coal plants; South Korea delayed coal plant shutdowns.