While Missiles Fly Over the Gulf, Qatar and Pakistan Are Quietly Running a Back Channel Between Washington and Tehran

The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that renewed fighting between the United States and Iran could prolong the global energy crisis after hopes of recovery under last month’s ceasefire unraveled. The central issue remains the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG exports normally transit. The fighting has once again disrupted shipping—threatening energy supplies, fueling inflation, and undermining the world’s broader economic stability. The latest escalation also raises questions…