[Eni Group CEO: If Middle East Conflict Persists, Oil Market May Break Current Range by Early 2027] Odaily Planet Daily News – Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Italy's state-owned Eni Group, stated that if the Middle East conflict continues, the global oil market will likely break the current range of approximately $80 to $100 per barrel by the first quarter of 2027 at the latest, driving inflation higher and reducing energy demand. In an interview published Saturday by *Il Sole 24 Ore*, Descalzi noted that the release of strategic reserves has so far helped maintain crude oil prices within this range, but this strategy is facing increasing risks due to the finite nature of global reserves. "The long-term solution is to enhance energy security through diversification of supply sources and routes," he said. Descalzi also mentioned that disruptions related to the Iran war, which erupted at the end of February, have led to a daily decline in global oil inventories of 3.8 million barrels, accelerating to 4.6 million barrels per day by May. He emphasized that countries should focus on producers in North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, while reducing reliance on controlled maritime routes. (Jin10)