The Iran War Has Cut Off Supply of a Gas the AI Industry Desperately Needs

The IRGC closed travel through the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli aggression.

The Wall Street Journal reports the move cut nearly one-third of global helium supply.

Qatar supplies about 30–35% of world helium; QatarEnergy estimates its helium exports will drop roughly 17%, and Qatar hosts the US Al Udeid Air Base.

Helium is critical for cooling equipment used to build AI chips; the shortage may force chipmakers to curb production and tighten a bottleneck.

The helium market runs on long-term contracts; chipmakers securing short-term supplies have triggered a bidding war, relief could take months if not years, repairs may take 3–5 years, and Ralf Gubler says the shock exposes vulnerability in the AI build-out.