Pouyanné shared the assessment during a hearing at the French National Assembly, highlighting that regional energy infrastructure remains fragile despite the recent U.S.-Iran peace framework. Even with the eventual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, he cautioned that global fuel markets will face continued supply pressures due to these lingering refinery bottlenecks. The SATORP site, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Saudi Aramco, stands as one of the most sophisticated refining centers in the Middle East, and its prolonged downtime remains a critical factor for international fuel traders.

During the same parliamentary session, the executive addressed broader fiscal pressures, specifically defending his company against proposed windfall taxes. He maintained that TotalEnergies had already mitigated consumer costs by voluntarily capping fuel prices for French drivers throughout the recent period of market volatility. While crude and LNG prices have begun to stabilize following the diplomatic thaw in the region, the slow pace of refinery restoration signals that energy markets may remain susceptible to price spikes for some time.