Bahrain State Oil Firm Declares Force Majeure After Iranian Attack
State oil company halts contractual obligations after Iranian strike damages refinery amid escalating Middle East conflict.
Iran, Mar 09 : Bahrain’s state owned oil company has declared force majeure on its oil shipments after a refinery complex was set ablaze in an attack linked to Iran, intensifying fears over energy supply disruptions in the Middle East.
The announcement, reported by the Bahrain News Agency, confirmed that the company invoked the legal provision due to extraordinary circumstances caused by the ongoing regional conflict.
Under a force majeure declaration, companies are temporarily released from fulfilling contractual obligations when unforeseen events disrupt normal operations.
Officials said refinery activities were affected following the strike, though the company assured that domestic fuel demand in Bahrain would continue to be met.
Regional conflict disrupts energy infrastructure
The refinery incident occurred as hostilities intensified across the region after attacks involving Iran, Israel and the United States expanded to energy facilities and military targets.
Iran has launched missiles and drones toward several Gulf states and strategic installations, raising concerns about the safety of critical infrastructure.
The escalation has also affected shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes.
Oil prices surge as supply fears grow
Energy markets reacted sharply to the developments, with international benchmark Brent Crude rising above $114 per barrel, reflecting growing fears of supply shortages.
Attacks were also reported on energy infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, including a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah and drone threats targeting the Shaybah oil field.
Meanwhile, Iranian missiles and drones struck several locations across the Gulf, including areas in Qatar and Kuwait. Authorities in Bahrain reported that a residential area was hit, leaving dozens of civilians injured.
Leadership shift in Iran amid ongoing war
Amid the intensifying conflict, Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the death of Ali Khamenei earlier in the war.
The younger Khamenei, known for his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, now assumes control of Iran’s armed forces and strategic policy decisions.
His appointment has drawn criticism from some political figures in Iran who oppose what they describe as hereditary leadership within the Islamic Republic.
Growing humanitarian and diplomatic concerns
The widening conflict has already resulted in significant casualties across the region. Officials report hundreds of deaths in Iran and Lebanon and additional casualties in Israel since hostilities began.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the United States Department of State has ordered non-essential diplomatic personnel to leave several countries in the region, including Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon.
As attacks on energy infrastructure continue, analysts warn that the conflict could further destabilise global energy markets and deepen geopolitical tensions across the Middle East.
