Iranian General Threatens Trump: Be Careful You Could Be 'Eliminated'
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Iran’s National Security Council Secretary has threatened US President Donald Trump after Trump warned Iran against halting the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Iranian nation, which has made sacrifices, is not afraid of your empty threats,” wrote Secretary Ali Larijani on social media platform X in a post translated by the Associated Press (AP).
“Even those greater than you cannot eliminate Iran,” he asserted.
“Be careful that you yourself are not eliminated.”
Larijani’s statement responded to Trump’s comments on Monday on Truth Social. Trump had previously stated “if Iran does something that goes beyond oil flow in the Strait of Hormuz, America will strike it 20 times harder”.
“Furthermore, we will destroy easy-to-destroy targets that will make it almost impossible for Iran to rebuild itself as a nation – Death, Fire, and Wrath will rule over them – But I hope, and pray, that will not happen!” Trump said.
“This is a gift from the United States to China, and all countries that heavily use the Strait of Hormuz. May this be a signal that will be greatly appreciated,” he added.
Larijani’s pressure emerged after Iran launched new attacks against Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain on Tuesday, targeting US interests. In Bahrain, an attack on a residential building killed a 29-year-old woman and injured eight others.
Notably, petrol prices surged following combined US-Israeli military operations in Iran that began on 28 February. The conflict resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Oman and Iran and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
According to hormuzstraitmonitor, only two ships passed through the strait in the last 24 hours. Ordinarily, around 60 vessels typically enter those waters.
On Tuesday, 157 ships were stranded there, including 98 oil tankers and 34 bulk carriers.
Previously, Trump argued that the surge in oil prices was a “very small price to pay” for eliminating the alleged Iranian nuclear threat. However, this has alarmed parliament members.
This coincides with spring and summer beginning in the United States and increasing numbers of Americans travelling. Petrol prices will impact household budgets amid affordability concerns.
This has also sparked criticism within the US itself. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) criticised the government for apparently not considering energy prices before the attack last month.
“For God’s sake, are you telling me you didn’t plan this?” she told Punchbowl News last week.
“I am beginning to think they did not plan this.”