Nema prodaje nafte u regiji ako Teheran blokira izvoz, kaže iranski kalibaf

Iran’s parliament speaker has warned that if the country is prevented from exporting oil, no nations in the region will be able to conduct oil sales, a declaration that comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made the remarks on social media, emphasizing that the security of energy exports across the Middle East is under threat due to the ongoing conflict. His comments follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s explicit threat to strike Iranian infrastructure in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Ghalibaf described the current situation as reaching a critical juncture, stating, “The equation of this war is clear: either all or none!” He argued that if Iran is unable to secure its oil exports, the entire regional energy market could collapse. “In a region where we do not sell oil, no one will sell oil,” he wrote. He further noted that without guarantees of security, no infrastructure would remain safe, and the safety of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the absence of U.S. forces. Ghalibaf reiterated that the situation in the strait would not revert to pre-war conditions. Trump’s warning came after a series of U.S. military actions targeting Iranian assets. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated that any attack on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a retaliatory strike against Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants in Tehran. This follows 11 consecutive nights of U.S. military operations against Iran, with the latest strikes lasting approximately 75 minutes. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that these operations targeted Iranian military centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and logistics infrastructure, aiming to undermine Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has accused Iran of attacking more than 30 commercial vessels in the region over the past three months. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued advisories urging vessels to avoid certain routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, IRGC Aerospace Commander Mousavi warned that Iran might cut off electricity supplies to U.S. allies if its bridges or power plants were attacked. An IRGC spokesperson also announced that the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz had been mined, advising shipping companies to steer clear of the area. The potential for disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has raised alarm in global energy markets. The strait accounts for a substantial portion of the world’s seaborne oil trade, and any interruption poses immediate economic repercussions. Recent developments, including Iran’s near-complete blockage of the Strait and increased threats from Iran-backed Houthi rebels near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, have driven up oil prices. Brent crude briefly surpassed $95 per barrel before settling around $93. To mitigate risks in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia has redirected millions of barrels of crude oil to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. However, should the Bab el-Mandeb Strait become unsafe, tankers would need to take the longer route through the Suez Canal, significantly increasing transportation times and costs. The conflict has expanded beyond initial confrontations, with fighting spreading across the region since early March. The U.S. and Israel initiated strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks from Tehran on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases. The escalation has led to widespread violence, with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, alongside Israeli military operations in Lebanon, resulting in thousands of casualties and displacing millions of people. An Iranian health ministry official reported that recent U.S. strikes killed 50 civilians and injured approximately 500 others. Meanwhile, U.S. military fatalities have risen to 18 in recent days, highlighting the mounting human and military toll of the expanding conflict.