Iran has warned that US energy companies operating around the Gulf could face retaliation if the United States launches further attacks, raising the stakes around the Strait of Hormuz and the global oil trade.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Monday that US energy infrastructure in the region remained vulnerable after renewed military exchanges between Iran and the United States.
“Strike our assets and you get struck,” Qalibaf said, warning that the American energy industry in the region shared the same exposure.
The warning came as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices higher. Brent crude reached a six-week high after weekend attacks involving US and Iranian forces, adding another source of pressure to an already unsettled global economy.
Iran has also threatened to impose new restrictions on shipping through the Gulf. Senior Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei said the country would announce a restricted maritime zone in the coming days and establish a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposed zone would begin near the area where the United States has established a naval blockade and extend into the Gulf, Rezaei said.
That would put commercial shipping in an increasingly difficult position. The Strait of Hormuz carries a substantial share of global oil and gas supplies, and any sustained disruption could affect energy prices well beyond the Middle East.
The latest confrontation follows the collapse of a ceasefire reached in June after the United States launched military action against Iran. The conflict has already disrupted oil flows through the strait and forced Gulf states to consider alternative trade routes.
The economic consequences are becoming harder to separate from the military confrontation. Higher crude prices are already feeding into fuel costs, while rising energy prices are adding to inflation concerns in the United States and Europe.
European markets fell slightly on Monday as investors assessed the renewed escalation. Oil prices rose while traders also watched central banks, which face a difficult choice between controlling inflation and supporting economic growth.
Iran’s threats also expose the limits of any strategy that seeks to pressure Tehran through military action without creating wider risks for regional energy infrastructure.
The Gulf states have sought to protect their commercial interests while avoiding direct involvement in the confrontation. A prolonged disruption around Hormuz would nevertheless affect their economies, shipping networks and relationships with both Iran and the United States.
For Tehran, the threat against American energy interests provides another form of leverage. Iran does not need to close the Strait completely to create economic pressure. The prospect of attacks, restricted zones or unpredictable shipping conditions can itself raise insurance costs and push traders to price in a greater risk premium.
The coming days will show whether the latest warnings remain political threats or become another stage in the confrontation. For global energy markets, the distinction matters because even limited disruption around Hormuz can quickly become a global problem.
