US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Iran over the possibility of disruptions to global oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes in the escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump said the United States would retaliate forcefully if Iran attempted to halt oil flows through the narrow maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far,” Trump wrote.
The US president added that American forces could target infrastructure that would make it “virtually impossible” for Iran to rebuild. “Death, fire and fury will reign upon them,” he wrote, while expressing hope that such a scenario would not occur.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically important waterways in global energy markets. Roughly 20 percent of the world’s crude oil supply passes through the narrow shipping lane each day. Tankers carrying oil from major Gulf producers such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait transit the strait on their way to international markets.
A disruption in the passage could cause immediate shocks to global oil prices and threaten energy supplies across Asia and Europe. Trump suggested that ensuring free navigation through the strait benefits countries heavily dependent on Gulf energy exports. “This is a gift from the United States of America to China and all nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait,” he said.
Trump’s warning follows a statement from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which said Tehran could shut down regional oil exports if military strikes by the United States and Israel continue. According to Iranian state media, an IRGC spokesperson warned that the country would not allow “one litre of oil” to leave the region under such circumstances. “We will determine the end of the war,” the spokesperson said.
The threat reflects Tehran’s longstanding strategy of using the strait as leverage during regional confrontations. Iran has previously warned that it could block shipping through the waterway if its oil exports were severely restricted by sanctions or military pressure.
In a separate interview with CBS News, Trump suggested that US military operations against Iran had significantly weakened Tehran’s capabilities. “I think the war is very complete, pretty much,” he said, claiming Iran had lost key elements of its military power.
“They’ve got no navy, no communications, they've got no air force,” Trump said. He added that US forces were operating ahead of schedule in the campaign.
The rising tensions have unsettled energy markets and shipping companies operating in the Gulf region. Analysts warn that even a limited disruption to tanker traffic could trigger sharp spikes in oil prices and disrupt global supply chains.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
