Energy Secretary Wright Vows to Spare Iranian Oil Infrastructure to Prevent Long-Term Global Market Collapse

Energy Secretary Chris Wright states the US has no plans to hit Iran’s oil or gas sectors, aiming to limit global market disruption to only a few weeks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 8, 2026, 1:01 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Newsmax

United States Clarifies Non-Targeting Policy

The United States has officially decoupled its military objectives from Iran’s energy production capacity, according to a statement from Energy Secretary Chris Wright. In a televised interview on CNN, Wright emphasized that the U.S. is targeting zero energy infrastructure as part of its ongoing air campaign alongside Israel. This strategic restraint is intended to prevent a total destabilization of global energy markets, which have already seen West Texas Intermediate prices climb by 12 percent in a single day. The Secretary maintained that the current administration has no existing plans to strikes oil fields, natural gas refineries, or any facilities essential to Iran's domestic and export energy industries.

Downplaying Israeli Strikes on Local Fuel Depots

Addressing recent reports of massive fires in and around Tehran, Secretary Wright characterized the Israeli strikes on Saturday as localized and tactically specific. He described the targeted facilities as fuel depots used for filling the tanks of land vehicles rather than primary production nodes or export terminals. By framing these incidents as "local" rather than "strategic" hits on the energy sector, the U.S. is attempting to lower the temperature for nervous investors and prevent a panic-driven spike in petroleum futures. Wright suggested that any resulting disruptions would likely be measured in weeks rather than months, portraying the current volatility as a manageable, temporary phenomenon.

The Chokepoint Crisis at the Strait of Hormuz

Despite the administration's stated restraint, the war has effectively neutralized the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor responsible for the transit of 20 percent of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. This closure has served as the primary driver for the dramatic 36 percent weekly increase in global oil prices. The inability of tankers to navigate this passage has riled energy markets and created a significant bottleneck for global supplies. The U.S. energy department is closely monitoring these disruptions, but Wright insisted that the strategic reserve and alternative supply routes would eventually mitigate the pressure on consumers.