By SUNTV Global Channel | March 10, 2026
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply after Iran warned that it could stop all crude oil shipments from leaving the region if ongoing military attacks by the United States and Israel continue.
Iran’s powerful military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) issued the warning on Tuesday, declaring that it would prevent oil exports if the strikes against Iran persist. The group said it would not allow “even one litre of oil” to be transported from the Middle East under continued hostilities.
The threat has heightened global concern over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply is transported daily. The passage has already been severely disrupted, with oil tankers unable to sail through the corridor for more than a week as the conflict intensifies.
Energy markets are closely watching the situation, as any prolonged closure of the vital shipping route could trigger a major global supply shock.
Responding to Iran’s warning, U.S. President Donald Trump vowed that Washington would respond with overwhelming military force if Tehran attempts to interfere with international oil shipments.
Speaking during a news conference, Trump warned that the United States would strike Iran “so hard” that it would cripple its ability to disrupt the region.
In a separate post on his social media platform Truth Social, the American president issued another stern warning, saying if Iran blocks oil movement through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would retaliate “twenty times harder” than previous strikes.
Despite the heated rhetoric, Trump expressed confidence that the war may end sooner than initially predicted. He claimed that U.S. forces have already inflicted significant damage on Iran’s military capabilities and suggested the conflict could conclude well before the four-week timeline earlier projected by his administration.
Israel has stated that its primary objective is to dismantle Iran’s clerical ruling system, while U.S. officials say Washington aims to eliminate Tehran’s missile programme and nuclear ambitions. Trump has also indicated that the war would only end when Iran installs a government willing to cooperate with the United States.
Iranian authorities quickly dismissed the remarks. An IRGC spokesperson insisted that Tehran—not Washington—would determine how and when the war ends, describing Trump’s comments as “nonsense.”
The political situation inside Iran has also shifted dramatically following the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. Analysts say the leadership transition signals Tehran’s determination to maintain its current course despite mounting international pressure.
Meanwhile, the escalating crisis has already rattled global energy markets. Oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions.
Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, jumped more than 30 percent over the weekend and briefly climbed past $119 per barrel — the first time prices have crossed the $100 mark since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The surge reflects growing anxiety among investors that the war could trigger a major global energy crisis if shipping routes in the Middle East remain blocked.
For now, the standoff continues, leaving the global economy on edge as world powers watch closely to see whether the conflict expands further or moves toward a fragile resolution.
Reporting by SUNTV Global Channel.
