Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that shifting global energy routes towards the Mediterranean could help ease long-term risks, saying the world needs to rely less on the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to Newsmax, he said shifting pipelines westward could help bypass what he described as a strategic choke point controlled by Iran.
The suggestion comes at a time when tensions in West Asia continue to disrupt energy flows. With the Strait of Hormuz carrying around 20 per cent of the world’s oil, any instability there has an immediate global impact. Netanyahu’s remarks point to a broader rethink of energy routes as conflict in the region enters its second month.
Netanyahu flags pipeline shift to reduce reliance on Hormuz
In the interview, Netanyahu said one possible solution would be to move oil and gas through land routes across Saudi Arabia towards the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. “Long-term solutions include rerouting energy pipelines westward, across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea and Mediterranean, bypassing Iran’s geographic choke point,” said Netanyahu.
He warned that Iran’s location gives it the ability to disrupt global supplies, especially during periods of conflict. He added that while military action might offer some immediate relief, a more lasting solution would be to gradually make the Strait less central to global energy supply.
According to the interview, such overland routes could weaken Iran’s influence on global energy markets.
Iran clears plan to regulate Strait traffic, US rejects ‘selective access’ claims
Even as Israel pushes for alternatives, Iran is moving to strengthen its control over the Strait. Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), reported that the country’s Parliament Security Committee has approved a management plan for the waterway.
The proposal includes tolls on vessels, new security and safety measures, and environmental provisions. It also introduces a rial-based payment system and bars American and Israeli ships from passing through. Countries enforcing unilateral sanctions against Iran could also face restrictions, according to IRIB.
The plan outlines cooperation with Oman to formalise legal arrangements governing the Strait and reaffirms Iran’s authority over the route.
Meanwhile, the White House said recent tanker movements through the Strait, despite what it described as near-blockage conditions, were made possible by ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran.
At a press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed suggestions that Iran was selectively allowing ships through. “That’s not something we support, and I would reject that they are cherry-picking,” she said.
Leavitt added that the movement of previously announced tankers, along with 20 more expected in the coming days, was linked to both direct and indirect negotiations between the US and Iran.
“That’s not something we support, and I would reject that they are cherry-picking. In fact, these tankers that are moving through – the 10 that were previously announced and now the new 20, the announcement of 20 additional tankers, which we expect to see over the coming days – are a result of the direct and indirect talks that are taking place between the United States and Iran,” she claimed.
She credited diplomatic efforts under US President Donald Trump for enabling the passage.