Iran offered Arab and European countries unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday if they expel US and Israeli envoys from their territories.
A somewhat unorthodox offer of safe passage was made by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which offered “full right and freedom” to pass through the strategic waterway if Arab and European nations cut ties with the US and Israel, according to state broadcaster IRIB.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supplies normally pass, has become a focus of confrontation between the US, Israel and Iran, with supply uncertainty causing significant volatility in global energy prices.
Iran has previously claimed control of the strategic waterway, and US President Donald Trump warned late on Monday of dire consequences – “death, fire and fury” if Tehran cuts off oil supplies through the strait.
“If Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States of America will hit it TWENTY TIMES HARDER than it has been hit so far,” Trump warned in a post on Truth Social.
“Furthermore, we will remove easily destructible targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be rebuilt as a nation – death, fire and fury will reign over them – but I hope and pray that this will not happen!” the US president added, threatening a strong escalation if Iran tries to disrupt the flow of oil supplies.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
