The Middle East conflict has made it clear that dependence on imported fossil fuels leaves nations vulnerable to shocks and shortages. This makes clean energy not just a climate necessity but a national security imperative, with implications for the energy transition. More than eight weeks into the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran, the impact on global energy markets is deepening. Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered what the International Energy Agency (IEA) calls the largest supply disruption in the history of the oil market. Around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) normally passes through the waterway, with most of it bound for Asia. As supplies tighten, fuel prices have surged. The International Monetary Fund says the shock is hitting economies unevenly but warns that “all roads” lead to higher prices and weaker growth. Governments have responded with emergency measures – capping prices, conserving energy and drawing on strategic stocks …