At the 2026 MoneyShow Masters Symposium Las Vegas, I interviewed Anas Alhajji of Energy Outlook Advisors about major energy-market drivers – including tensions tied to the Middle East conflict and Bab el-Mandeb. Alhajji says the key risk remains the Strait of Hormuz, explaining why most proposed bypass pipelines or canals are no longer practical due to drone threats and economics.

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Anas also suggests OPEC+ could instead coordinate the buildup of large strategic inventories in consuming countries away from geographic chokepoints. Next, he outlines bullish views on LNG, coal, and sulfur – while calling natural gas “the future.”

He also corrects misconceptions about the US SPR, discusses the difference between commercial versus strategic inventories, and describes how SPR releases are actually loans – with changing incentives as prices fall.

If you’re looking for straight talk on the Middle East crisis – and what you should keep in mind if you're investing in or trading energy assets – this is the episode for you.

Relevant tickers for this podcast include (UNG) (USO) and (XLE) .

Disclaimer:This article represents the opinion of the author only. It does not represent the opinion of Webull, nor should it be viewed as an indication that Webull either agrees with or confirms the truthfulness or accuracy of the information. It should not be considered as investment advice from Webull or anyone else, nor should it be used as the basis of any investment decision.