Iran warns ‘not one litre’ of oil will be allowed to leave the Middle East and unleashes deadly strike on Bahrain – as Trump threatens Tehran with ‘fire and fury’ if blockade continues
Iran Unleashes Airstrike on Bahrain Amid Threat to Halt Oil Exports
Iran has issued a stark warning, declaring that it will prevent ‘even a single litre’ of crude oil from leaving the Middle East if the US and Israel persist with their military operations. This declaration followed a deadly aerial assault on Bahrain, which killed one civilian and injured eight others in the capital, Manama.
The attack targeted a residential building, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict. Bahrain characterized the strike as ‘Iranian aggression,’ signaling growing tensions in the Gulf region. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump reiterated his stance, vowing ‘fire and fury’ against Tehran if the country continues to disrupt oil shipments.
“We will hit them so hard that it will not be possible for them or anybody else helping them to ever recover that section of the world,” Trump declared at a Monday news conference.
Trump’s remarks came amid a volatile market response. Despite his confidence in a swift resolution, oil prices dipped sharply, while global stock markets experienced a mixed reaction. The situation was further complicated by Iran’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader, a move seen as a defiant stance against Western pressure.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps emphasized its resolve, stating it would ‘determine the end of the war’ if hostilities continue. A spokesperson dismissed Trump’s warnings as ‘nonsense,’ according to state media. The group’s commitment to blocking oil exports underscores its strategic focus on economic leverage.
Since late February, Iranian forces have launched a series of air and missile strikes, resulting in over 1,300 civilian casualties and thousands wounded. The conflict has already disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for one-fifth of global oil supply, causing tankers to halt for over a week and forcing producers to reduce output.
Trump warned that US strikes could intensify if Iran obstructs tanker traffic through the strait. In a subsequent post on Truth Social, he reiterated the threat: ‘If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far.’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated a possible suspension of US negotiations, citing ‘a bitter experience’ with prior talks. ‘After three rounds of negotiation, the American team said itself we made progress. Yet, they decided to attack us,’ he stated in an interview with PBS.
Following a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump announced plans to ease oil-related sanctions on certain nations, aiming to alleviate the energy crisis. This could involve lifting restrictions on Russian oil exports, potentially complicating efforts to sanction Moscow for its actions in Ukraine. Alternatives include releasing strategic reserves or curbing US exports, according to sources.