Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed that the country will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and retaliate against the United States following the killing of his father during the ongoing conflict.
In a statement read on state television on Thursday, Khamenei declared that Iran would avenge what he described as the “blood of its martyrs” and intensify pressure on its adversaries.
“The United States must close all its bases in the region,” the statement said. He also insisted that the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route that passes along Iran’s coastline, “should remain shut to put pressure on the enemy.”
The Strait handles nearly one-fifth of global oil supply, making any disruption a significant threat to international energy markets.
Tanker attacks escalate regional tensions.
The warning came as maritime attacks intensified across the region. Two oil tankers were reported ablaze in the Iraqi port of Basra on Thursday after being struck by suspected Iranian explosive boats.
Footage verified by Reuters showed ships engulfed in massive flames that lit up the night sky. Iraqi authorities blamed the attack on Iranian forces, confirming that at least one crew member had been killed.
Earlier the same day, three additional vessels were struck in separate incidents across the Gulf. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for one of the attacks, stating that a Thai bulk carrier had been targeted after ignoring warnings from Iranian naval forces.
Another container vessel also reported being hit by an unidentified projectile near the United Arab Emirates, adding to concerns over maritime security in the region.
Global energy markets under pressure
The widening conflict has severely disrupted global energy flows. The war, which began with a U.S.–Israeli bombing campaign in late February, has reportedly killed about 2,000 people and triggered what the International Energy Agency describes as the largest disruption to energy supplies in modern history.
Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel after the latest attacks, reversing earlier declines that followed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had suggested the conflict would soon end.
Despite those assurances, Iran has insisted that oil shipments will not resume through the Strait of Hormuz until U.S. and Israeli military operations cease.
Trump claims victory despite continued fighting.
President Trump has repeatedly sought to calm energy markets, telling supporters at a rally in Kentucky that the United States had effectively won the conflict.
“You never like to say too early you won. We won,” Trump said. “In the first hour, it was over.”
However, the president also acknowledged that U.S. forces would remain engaged to complete what he described as the mission to dismantle Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities.
With attacks continuing across the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz still effectively blocked, analysts warn that global oil markets could face prolonged instability if the conflict escalates further.
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