Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin stated Wednesday that escalating tensions with Iran are accelerating a global shift toward U.S. energy supplies, as nations seek more stable and accessible oil amid Middle Eastern uncertainty.
During an interview on “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Zeldin highlighted growing demand from Indo-Pacific countries moving away from Persian Gulf shipments to American producers.
“Because of what’s going on right now in the Middle East, all these Indo-Pacific nations want to diversify their supply chains and look to the United States,” Zeldin said.
The EPA administrator noted that countries are weighing logistical and security advantages. “They know the supply we have, and they’re doing the math,” he added. “They’re thinking: ‘For a long time, we’ve been relying on oil that takes 28 days to reach me with no freedom of navigation. Or I could go to the United States—it would take eight days and provide total freedom of navigation.’ And it’s a no-brainer. They want to diversify their supply chain and are cutting deals with U.S. companies.”
Zeldin’s comments come as the U.S. military maintains a blockade targeting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that handles approximately 20% of global oil.
The policy aims to deprive Tehran of revenue and compel peace negotiations while simultaneously boosting American energy production and exports.
Zeldin emphasized that domestic policy reforms are driving increased output, citing rollbacks of Biden-era environmental regulations and expanded investment in energy infrastructure.
“We are rolling back so many Biden-era rules at the EPA where they were trying to strangle entire sectors of our energy economy out of existence, and we’re unleashing that,” he stated.
On oil prices, which have remained above $100 per barrel, Zeldin declined to provide a specific forecast if the blockade continues into summer. However, he expressed confidence that U.S. policy gains and production increases would help stabilize markets.
“I can’t predict the developments in ongoing talks,” Zeldin said, adding that the administration’s national security team “has been achieving all of their military objectives.”
Zeldin also pointed to sustained progress: “On the energy front, we have been crushing it since President Trump was sworn back in.”
He suggested that as more nations pivot to U.S. suppliers, increased production and exports could offset Iran-related supply disruptions, potentially easing upward pressure on prices over time.
