Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated on the 22nd (local time) that if Iran cannot export oil, no one in the region will be able to export oil, directly responding to US President Donald Trump's military threats. Trump had threatened to attack power facilities and bridges in Tehran if Iran attacks ships passing through the Hormuz Strait. Iranian officials issued successive statements emphasizing Iran's control over the Hormuz Strait and vowing retaliation if US forces attack Iranian infrastructure, while US military currently blocks ships traveling to and from Iran in the strait.
Parliament Speaker Warns Regional Oil Exports Will Stop
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian Parliament Speaker responsible for negotiations with the US, wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account on the 22nd that "if we cannot export oil, no one in that region (Middle East) will be able to export oil."
He added that "if our security is not guaranteed, no infrastructure will be safe, and the security of the (Hormuz) Strait will only be guaranteed when US forces are not present," noting that "we have stated multiple times that the situation in the strait will not return to its pre-war state."
US military currently blocks ships traveling to and from Iran in the Hormuz Strait. Ghalibaf's statement indicates intent to block exports from other oil-producing countries as well.
Foreign Minister Promises Decisive Response to Aggression
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on his X account that "any aggression against Iran will face a firm, strong and decisive response."
He stated that "our defense action guideline is clear: an eye for an eye," adding that "any aggression against Iran, including against our infrastructure, will face a firm, strong and decisive response."
Araghchi wrote that "any party that participates in or supports such aggression in any way will be considered a legitimate target."
Military Commands Threaten Regional Infrastructure Attacks
The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command, which directs Iran's unified military forces, stated that "the Hormuz Strait remains closed, and if any ship passes through this strait, it must use only designated routes and navigate according to previously announced procedures."
The command stated that "if US threats turn into actual action, Iranian forces will not allow a single drop of oil to be exported, and oil, gas, electricity and economic infrastructure in the region will become targets of attack," warning that "the criminal US and its rogue terrorist forces' repeated threats will bring nothing but the expansion of war in the region and beyond."
IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Seyed Majid Mousavi warned on the 22nd that "if our bridges and power plants are attacked, power supply disruption in the countries of child killers' allies and countries that accept them is certain."
IRGC Navy spokesman (Brigadier General) Hossein Mohebi told shipping companies that "the mined route south of the Hormuz Strait is a path to the destruction of your assets," urging them not to be deceived by the US.
FAQ
What did Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf say on the 22nd about oil exports?
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated on his X account on the 22nd (local time) that if Iran cannot export oil, no one in the region will be able to export oil, and that the security of the Hormuz Strait will only be guaranteed when US forces are not present.
How did Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi respond to US threats?
Abbas Araghchi warned on his X account that any aggression against Iran, including against Iranian infrastructure, will face a firm, strong and decisive response, and that any party participating in or supporting such aggression will be considered a legitimate target.
What did Iranian military commands announce about the Hormuz Strait?
The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command stated that the Hormuz Strait remains closed and ships must use only designated routes, warning that if US threats turn into action, Iranian forces will not allow any oil to be exported and regional infrastructure will become attack targets.
