Iran warns no oil will leave region as Trump threatens to take over Strait of Hormuz

The standoff between Washington and Tehran intensified sharply on March 10, with Iran warning that it could halt all oil exports from the region if attacks on the country continue, even as US President Donald Trump threatened to take control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation came as the Middle East conflict entered its second week, turning the narrow maritime corridor — through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — into the epicentre of rising global energy and security concerns.

Iran said it would not allow even “one litre of oil” to leave the region if US and Israeli attacks on its territory continued. The warning came shortly after Trump signalled that Washington could step in to control the vital shipping route if Tehran attempted to disrupt global oil flows.

In a combative interview with CBS News recently, Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran, saying any interference with tanker traffic in the Hormuz corridor would trigger devastating consequences.

“They have shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute,” Trump said, adding that if Iran carried out further attacks, “that would be the end of Iran.”

He also suggested that the United States could assert control over the strait if the situation deteriorated further. “The Strait of Hormuz is open now,” he said, adding that he was “thinking about taking it over.”

Strait of Hormuz in the global spotlight

Situated between Iran and Oman, the Strait of Hormuz is among the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, serving as a gateway for oil shipments from major Gulf producers to global markets.

The ongoing hostilities have already disrupted commercial shipping through the narrow waterway, fuelling fears of a prolonged supply shock. Oil markets reacted sharply, with crude prices surging to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday — their highest level in four years — amid concerns that tanker traffic could face further disruptions.

Hours before Trump’s remarks, Iran’s foreign ministry had issued a warning to oil tankers navigating the strait, cautioning vessels to exercise extreme care amid escalating tensions.

Trump has repeatedly warned that any Iranian attempt to block the passage would provoke a far stronger US response. In a post on Truth Social, he said Iran would be struck “twenty times harder” if it tried to halt oil shipments through the strait.

Iran pushes back

Tehran, however, appeared unmoved by the warnings. On March 10, the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued its own blunt threat, signaling that regional oil exports could be stopped entirely if attacks by the United States and Israel continued.

“If aggression by the US military and the Zionist regime against Iran and its infrastructure continues, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow the export of even one litre of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice,” the IRGC said.

The threat has heightened fears of a broader energy crisis, as any prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could send global oil prices soaring and trigger ripple effects across economies worldwide.

With Washington and Tehran trading increasingly stark warnings, the strategic waterway has now emerged as the most volatile flashpoint in the rapidly escalating Middle East confrontation.