Trump Issues 'Death and Chaos' Threats to Iran; G7 Mobilises to Secure Global Oil Stocks
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has entered a new and increasingly alarming phase. US President Donald Trump has issued strong warnings to Iran regarding disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage accounting for 20% of global oil supplies that has now been nearly completely paralysed due to war.
Through his online statement, Trump emphasised he would not hesitate to deploy full military force should Iran attempt to halt oil flows. “If Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil in the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have ever been hit before,” Trump declared.
Trump further threatened to destroy strategic targets in Iran. “Death, Fire, and Chaos will rain down on them — though I hope and pray this does not happen!” he added.
Amid these threats, G7 member nations have stated their readiness to take “necessary steps” to maintain global energy supply stability. Although meetings between G7 finance ministers and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have yet to yield agreement on immediately releasing strategic crude oil reserves, this option remains on the table.
IEA Director Fatih Birol noted that the global oil market has deteriorated significantly in recent days. “Beyond transit challenges through the Strait of Hormuz, large volumes of oil production have been halted. This creates large and growing risks to the market,” Birol explained.
IEA member nations currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil reserves, plus 600 million barrels of industrial stocks. Should these reserves be released, it would represent the first emergency measure since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Brent crude oil prices surged more than 25% to touch US$119.50 per barrel on Monday morning in Asia, before falling below US$90 following Trump’s signals that war would soon end.
On the ground, the situation remains tense. Throughout the weekend, the US and Israel launched new waves of airstrikes across various regions of Iran, including oil depots. Conversely, Iran targeted energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf states. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting and destroying two waves of unmanned drones headed for its major oil fields.
UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves urged immediate de-escalation in the region. “I am prepared to support coordinated release of the IEA’s collective oil reserves,” Reeves said.
Trump himself views the short-term oil price surge as a small sacrifice for global security. “Short-term oil prices… are a very small price to pay for American and world security and peace. ONLY FOOLS THINK OTHERWISE!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump has set a 15-day deadline for Iran to reach a nuclear agreement, with military action threatened should diplomacy in Geneva fail. Brent crude prices have fallen from four-year highs after Trump signalled an end to the Iran conflict and plans to control the Strait of Hormuz. War with Iran has triggered surges in global oil prices, and the Trump administration is now struggling to find ways to curb fuel prices threatening the US domestic economy. Trump stated that the military operation against Iran is proceeding ahead of schedule, claiming Iranian military forces are incapacitated and war will soon end. The French government has deployed naval vessels, including a carrier strike group, to the Mediterranean.