According to The Guardian, eight of the world’s largest oil companies amassed profits exceeding $90 bn (£67 bn) over just three months amid the Iran conflict. The windfall has reignited accusations that the firms are “cashing in on human misery” as energy prices surge during a period of escalating war and climate crisis.
The Guardian links the profit surge to soaring energy prices triggered by the Iran war, while noting that the same period has seen deadly heatwaves linked to the emissions‑driven climate crisis. Calls have emerged for supermajors such as Saudi Aramco and BP to finance environmental damage caused by their gains, and BP’s chief has urged Prime Minister Burnham to prioritise UK oil and gas while trimming the portfolio in an unsentimental manner.
The figures illustrate the stark contrast between the fossil‑fuel industry’s financial success and global demands for environmental accountability and a rapid transition to renewable energy.