Trump Threatens Iran as War Risks Disrupt Oil & Global Markets
The escalating conflict in Iran has prompted the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in what has been described as U.S.-Israeli strikes. Despite this transition, global financial markets have shown resilience, seemingly unfazed by the leadership change and buoyed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertions of a swift resolution to the hostilities.
Speaking on Monday, President Trump stated that U.S. Forces had inflicted significant damage on Iranian military assets. He further predicted that the conflict would conclude within the four-week timeframe he previously indicated, although he refrained from detailing the specific conditions that would define a successful outcome.
Israel has explicitly stated its objective in the conflict is the overthrow of Iran’s theocratic government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement released Tuesday, declared, “Our aspiration is to bring the Iranian nation to cast off the yoke of tyranny.”
Trump emphasized that the ultimate resolution rests with Iran. “it’s up to them,” he said. “But there’s no question we’re breaking their backs, and our hand is still extended. If they join with the Iranian people, we will bring a lasting complete – if such things even exist in the lives of nations.”
When Will the War End?
U.S. Officials have primarily indicated that the goal of Washington is to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities and its nuclear program. However, President Trump has suggested that the war can only end with a compliant Iranian government.
At least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed, and thousands more injured, according to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, since the U.S. And Israel initiated air and missile strikes at the end of February.
Trump warned that U.S. Retaliation would be significantly intensified should Iran attempt to obstruct the passage of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway responsible for one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. “We will hit them much harder than they have ever been hit before,” he stated during a press conference on Monday.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared it will not permit any oil to depart the region if U.S. And Israeli attacks continue. A spokesperson, as reported by state media, dismissed Trump’s statements as “nonsense,” asserting, “We will decide when the war ends.”
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Trump’s Threats
In a subsequent post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated his warning. “If Iran does anything to stop oil from going through the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit twenty times harder than they have ever been hit before,” he wrote.
Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter, cautioned on Tuesday of “catastrophic consequences” for global markets if the war continues to disrupt navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait is the world’s most important oil export route, connecting producers in the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Closed Strait of Hormuz
The war has already effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, preventing tanker traffic for over a week and forcing producers to curtail output as storage facilities reach capacity.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Tehran is unlikely to resume negotiations with the U.S., despite what he described as American assertions of progress after three rounds of talks. “Despite that, they decided to attack us. So I don’t think talks with the Americans are on our agenda anymore,” he said in an interview with PBS.
President Trump has previously stated his desire to be involved in approving Iran’s new leadership, and last week described Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight” who would be “unacceptable” to lead Iran. He also suggested that the role of Iranian leader is a temporary one, requiring U.S. Approval to endure. According to reports from , Trump had expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, stating, “I am not happy,” with his ascendance.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 57, worked quietly behind the scenes during his father’s tenure and has deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The appointment of Khamenei’s son has seemingly strengthened the Iranian regime’s resolve against the U.S., with a slew of senior officials vowing to continue fighting the widening war, now in its tenth day.