Ghalibaf threatens US oil interests after Hegseth’s warning on Iranian tankers

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has drawn a line in the sand, or more accurately, in the water. Following US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s threat to destroy Iranian oil tankers if they target US Navy vessels, Ghalibaf warned that Iran would strike back at regional energy infrastructure and choke off oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation puts roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flow at risk. That’s the share of worldwide energy shipments that passes through the narrow waterway separating Iran from the Arabian Peninsula. The “all or none” doctrine Ghalibaf’s rhetoric on September 3 was blunt, even by the standards of Iranian political theater. He framed Gulf oil exports in binary terms: “Either all or none.” The implication was clear. If Iran’s energy exports are targeted, neighboring Gulf states’ oil shipments won’t flow either. The warning came days before US forces struck three Iranian tankers between September 5 and 6, hitting vessels identified as the M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1, and M/T Kylo. The strikes were reportedly carried out after alleged missile attacks on US Navy ships, marking a significant escalation in direct mili...