Iranian authorities have again warned they may block oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz for vessels they say serve the United States and its allies, Tehran’s military command said on Tuesday, further escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf.
A spokesman for the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that Iran will not permit oil flowing from the region to be used against its interests. “We will not allow a single drop of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the benefit of America and its allies,” he said in a televised statement.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened geopolitical strain in the Gulf and broader debate over global energy prices and sanctions on Iran, which has significant influence over regional oil exports.
The spokesman also suggested that Western policies aimed at keeping oil and energy prices “artificially low” could have consequences for the global energy market, implying that Tehran might use its control over the waterway to exert economic pressure.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with a large share of oil exports from Gulf states transiting the narrow passage. Any threat to its openness could have immediate effects on international energy markets and geopolitical stability in the region.
Analysts say such statements raise tensions between Iran and Western countries, while the international community watches closely developments in one of the most sensitive corridors for global oil transport.