Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary threatened President Donald Trump regarding the battle over oil.
The threat by secretary Ali Larijani came Tuesday after Trump warned Iran about stopping oil from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats,” Larijani wrote on X in a post translated by The Associated Press. “Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”
Larijani’s words were in response to Trump’s comments on Truth SocialMonday.
“If Iran does anything that tops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” Trump wrote.
“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!” Trump continued. “This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait. Hopefully, it is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated.”
Iran fired a slew of attacks on Israel, United Arab Emirates, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain Tuesday, per the AP. In Bahrain, an attack on a residential building killed a 29-year-old woman and injured eight others.
Gas prices have increased after the U.S.-Israeli joint military operation in Iran that started Feb. 28.
This led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is between Oman and Iran. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Two ships passed through the strait in the last 24 hours; the average is about 60 ships, according to hormuzstraitmonitor.com.
On Tuesday, 157 ships are stranded. This includes 98 oil tankers and 34 bulk carriers.
The price oil per barrel, according to West Intermediate crude oil — the benchmark for North American markets — is just over $90 as of Tuesday morning.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard said in a statement that it refuses to “allow the export of even a single liter of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice.”
Trump has said the spike in oil prices are a “very small price to pay” for eliminating the Iran’s alleged nuclear threat.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) criticized the administration for appearing to not consider energy prices before launching Operation Epic Fury.
“For heaven’s sakes, are you telling me you didn’t game this one out?” she told Punchbowl News last week. “I’m starting to think they didn’t game this one out.”
