The International Energy Agency has called on people to work from home as the escalating conflict in Iran worsens the global energy crisis.

The agency said commuting should be reduced where possible, warning that the worldwide energy shock is becoming “increasingly severe.”

It also outlined a 10-point action plan, saying the measures could be quickly implemented by governments, businesses, and households.

At the top of the list was a recommendation to “work from home where possible,” which it said would help reduce fuel demand for commuting.

The IEA also urged governments to reduce highway speed limits by at least 10 kilometres per hour, saying this would lower fuel consumption for both passenger vehicles and freight transport.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said he hoped the measures would be useful to governments worldwide, across both advanced and developing economies, during these challenging times.

IEA said the war in the Middle East has caused what it described as the largest disruption to global oil supplies in history.

It added that around 20 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but flows have now dropped to what it called a “trickle.”