President Donald Trump declared a stark red line on Monday, warning that the United States will unleash overwhelming military force if Iran tries to cut off oil supplies through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The warning came as the war between the United States and Israel against Iran entered its tenth day, sending oil prices and global markets into volatile swings and deepening fears that the conflict could disrupt a major artery for world energy supplies.
“If Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States of America will hit them TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit so far,” Trump wrote on social media.
President Donald Trump declared a stark red line on Monday, warning that the United States will unleash overwhelming military force if Iran tries to cut off oil supplies through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
He added a stark threat of escalation: “Furthermore, we will eliminate 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 it will not happen!
Trump signals both de-escalation and escalation
Despite the stark warning, Trump has also previously indicated that the war may not last long, sending mixed signals about Washington’s strategy.
“We’re going to end all of these threats once and for all, and the result will be lower oil, crude and gas prices for American families,” Trump said.
Later, speaking to lawmakers at his golf club near Miami, the president called the military campaign in the Middle East temporary.
“We took a little excursion” to the Middle East “to get rid of some evil. And I think you’re going to see that it’s going to be a short-term excursion,” Trump said.
The remarks briefly calmed markets that had been rattled by fears of a protracted conflict.
Oil markets are reeling as the Strait of Hormuz becomes a flashpoint
The war has already disrupted global energy flows. Oil prices jumped to nearly $120 a barrel – the highest level since 2022 – before retreating to $90 as investors weighed the possibility that the conflict could be short-lived.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil reserves normally pass, has become a focus of confrontation.
Iranian missile and drone attacks have targeted oil and gas infrastructure across the region, while tanker traffic through the strait has slowed dramatically due to security threats.
Attacks on merchant vessels near the waterway have killed at least seven sailors, according to the International Maritime Organization.
The disruption sent fuel prices soaring across the United States and prompted international companies and foreign workers to flee major business centers across the Gulf.
In Iran, the leadership of the hard line – Mojtaba Khamenei – appears
The conflict intensified after Iran installed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the death of Ali Khamenei during the first days of the war.
The younger Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric with close ties to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is widely seen as more hard-line than his father.
Investors interpreted his appointment as a sign that Iran intends to continue resisting Western pressure, sending oil prices soaring during the day.
Thousands of supporters gathered in Tehran and other cities to show their allegiance to the new leader, waving flags and chanting slogans such as “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.
Trump expressed displeasure with the selection.
He said he was “disappointed” that Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen, adding that he preferred the “idea” of a leader chosen from an “internal” pool of candidates, saying such a process was “working well” with Venezuela’s new leader, Delcy Rodríguez.
Heavy airstrikes shake Tehran and Isfahan
Meanwhile, fighting on the ground intensified. More than 20 powerful explosions rocked Tehran in what observers described as the heaviest airstrike on the capital since the conflict began.
Israel said it was carrying out a “large-scale wave of attacks” on targets in Tehran, the central Iranian city of Isfahan and southern regions of the country.
According to the Israeli military, dozens of infrastructure sites were hit, including facilities linked to the drone operations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran responded by firing more missiles toward Israel late Monday.
The war has already caused widespread disruption across the region, with bombs hitting military facilities, government facilities, energy infrastructure, hotels and even at least one school.
Trump claims progress against Iran’s missile program
Trump said US forces are moving closer to their goal of dismantling Iran’s ballistic missiles.
According to the president, the United States was close to eliminating both Iran’s missile stockpile and its ability to produce and launch new weapons.
At one point, Trump spoke of “building a new country,” remarks that appeared to hint at the possibility of a broader political transformation in Iran after the war.
Markets and geopolitics hinge on the next phase of the Iran war
Uncertainty surrounding Trump’s remarks – suggesting both a brief conflict and the possibility of a devastating escalation – has left global markets and governments scrambling to predict the next phase of the war.
The critical flash point remains the Strait of Hormuz. Any attempt by Iran to stop shipping through the narrow passage could trigger the dramatic military response Trump has promised.
Whether the conflict moves toward a quick resolution or develops into a broader regional confrontation may depend largely on what happens in this narrow stretch of water where the world’s energy supplies converge.
