The Strait of Hormuz was disrupted or nearly closed for roughly three and a half to four months, offering Gulf states aligned with the U.S. one clear message: energy flows – or tanker transits – must be rewired through pipeline networks that bypass the maritime chokepoint. By creating alternative pipeline export routes through the UAE, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Oman, or Turkey, regional producers can reduce the risk that Tehran can once again use Hormuz as a leverage tool to disrupt tanker traffic through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. TotalEnergies SE CEO Patrick Pouyanne is the latest to signal the urgent need for Gulf producers to prioritize building pipelines that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters. Speaking at an energy conference in Paris on Tuesday, Pouyanne said, “The reality is that the Strait of Hormuz represents a genuine threat, so we must act. To ensure it doesn’t remain a threat, there is only one solution: we must invest in pipelines to bypass the strait, which is an absolute priority.” Pouyanne identified alternative export routes in the UAE and Iraq, as well as through Syria. He continued, “When you are in Iraq and need to [...]
