Key facts
- Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned of a military response if the US naval blockade intensifies.
- Ghalibaf stated that Iran will not allow the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- He accused Washington of giving ships false guarantees for safe passage through a southern route.
- Ghalibaf threatened that if Iran cannot export oil, no one will be able to export oil from the Gulf.
- The US previously imposed and reinstated a naval blockade on Iran in 2026.
- The Strait of Hormuz was closed by Iran in early March 2026 following the start of the Iran war.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a stern warning, stating that Tehran will respond militarily if the United States intensifies its naval blockade and attempts to prevent Iranian oil exports. Ghalibaf asserted that Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz and will not permit Washington to reopen it, accusing the US of providing false assurances for ships using southern routes.
This warning comes amidst a history of naval blockades imposed by the US on Iran in 2026, which were initiated following the failure of peace talks and the outbreak of the Iran war. The US first imposed a blockade on April 13, 2026, which was later removed on June 18, 2026, after an agreement to end the war. However, the blockade was reinstated on July 14, 2026.
Ghalibaf's remarks suggest a potential for further escalation, with a threat that if Iran is prevented from exporting oil, other nations will also be unable to do so. This stance highlights the critical geopolitical importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil and LNG trade passes.