Iran Threatens to Block Middle Eastern Oil Exports to the US and Israel Amid Conflict
Iran has declared it will not permit the United States, Israel, or their allies to receive oil supplies from the Middle East region whilst the conflict continues. The statement was made by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini on Tuesday, 10 March.
“Amid the ongoing aggression from the United States and the Zionist regime against the Iranian people and our civilian infrastructure, the Iranian armed forces will not permit a single drop of oil to be exported from this region to hostile parties and their partners until further notice,” Naini stated, as reported by the Tasnim news agency.
Naini also assessed that opponents’ attempts to pressure and control global oil and gas prices would have no lasting impact, characterising such measures as temporary and incapable of significantly altering the situation.
Furthermore, Naini affirmed that Iran retains control over the development of the ongoing conflict and will determine when it concludes. He rebutted claims from US officials that Iran’s missile-launching capabilities were declining, asserting instead that Iran would increase its missile strike capacity, planning to deploy missiles with greater power, including warheads weighing a minimum of one tonne.
Iran’s hard-line statement comes following military strikes by the United States and Israel against multiple targets in Iran on 28 February, including the capital region of Tehran. The strikes reportedly caused damage to several facilities and resulted in civilian casualties. Iran subsequently retaliated with attacks against Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East region.
Initially, Washington and Tel Aviv characterised the military strikes as a precautionary measure against perceived threats from Iran’s nuclear programme. However, both nations subsequently expressed a desire to see a change in power in Iran.
According to energy expert Yayan Satyakti from Padjadjaran University, global oil prices remain potentially capable of rising to $130 per barrel. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has requested the G7 release strategic oil reserves to curb price increases resulting from the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz closure. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs evacuated 32 Indonesian nationals from Iran amid escalating Middle Eastern conflict, with 22 scheduled to arrive at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.