International energy agencies warn of worsening crisis

On April 13, 2026, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, warned that April is expected to be more difficult for the global energy sector than March. Despite oil deliveries in March, no new shipments were loaded in April following the start of the conflict involving Iran. Birol described the situation as the largest energy crisis in history, impacting oil, natural gas, fertilizers, petrochemicals, and helium. To address the economic fallout, the IEA, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank are coordinating their responses. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President Ajay Banga stated that both institutions are prepared to provide at least $20 billion each to support affected countries. If the conflict persists, these organizations plan to reorient existing aid programs to manage the crisis impact.