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By Goli Innocent
Iran has issued a strong warning that it will not allow any crude oil shipments to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fresh fears of a major disruption to global energy supply.
The warning came from Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Tehran’s Khatam al‑Anbiya military command headquarters, who declared that “not even a single litre of oil” would be allowed to cross the strategic waterway for the benefit of the United States, Israel and their allies.
According to him, any vessel carrying oil destined for those countries could be considered a legitimate target if the conflict in the region continues to expand.
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The threat has heightened anxiety in global oil markets because the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, handling close to 20 per cent of global crude shipments daily.
Amid fears of supply disruptions, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said its member nations are preparing to release about 400 million barrels of emergency oil reserves, the largest coordinated release in the agency’s history, in an effort to stabilise global markets.
Iranian officials have also warned that the growing instability in the Gulf could push oil prices significantly higher, cautioning countries to prepare for crude prices rising to as much as $200 per barrel if tensions escalate further.
