U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face devastating retaliation if it attempts to block oil shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, escalating rhetoric amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking during a press conference in Florida and in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Tehran would be hit “twenty times harder” if it interferes with global oil supplies passing through the critical shipping corridor.
The U.S. president warned that any attempt to halt oil flows could trigger massive military strikes that would make Iran “virtually impossible” to rebuild. “Death, fire and fury will reign upon them,” Trump wrote, while adding that he hoped such a scenario would not occur, dw.com reports.
Trump also said he believes the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran could end soon, despite rising tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that if attacks by the United States and Israel continue, Tehran could halt oil exports from the Gulf region entirely.
According to Iranian state media, the IRGC said the country would not allow the export of “one liter of oil” from the region under continued military pressure, signaling a potential escalation that could severely disrupt global energy markets.
The Iranian force also dismissed Trump’s earlier remarks as “nonsense,” insisting that Tehran would ultimately determine when the conflict ends.
The statements come as supporters of Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei held rallies across the country, pledging support for the leadership amid the escalating war.
Iran has ruled out negotiations with the United States and signaled it will continue its missile operations for as long as necessary.
Speaking to PBS News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is prepared to sustain its missile campaign and is no longer considering diplomatic talks with the United States at this stage.
His remarks came shortly after Trump suggested that the conflict with Iran could end “very soon,” although he did not provide a specific timeline.
