Iran has issued a stark warning that global oil sales could stop if the country is prevented from exporting its own crude. The statement came in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to target Iranian infrastructure if Tehran attacks ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said American forces would destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran strikes a vessel in the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes.
Iran's warning, reported by state media, suggested that if Tehran cannot sell oil, then no other country in the region would be able to either. The remark appeared to threaten a broader blockade of the strait, a tactic Iran has hinted at in past disputes.
The exchange raises tensions in the Middle East, where the US and Iran have been at odds over Iran's nuclear program and its support for armed groups. Both sides have accused each other of aggression. No specific incidents of ship attacks were reported at the time of the warning.
The situation is being closely watched by global energy markets, as any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could cause oil prices to spike. Neither side has indicated a willingness to back down.