Oil back above $110 after expletive-laden Trump threat to Iran
Oil back above $110 after expletive-laden Trump threat to Iran
World crude oil prices climbed above $110 per barrel on Monday, fueled by renewed tensions between the United States and Iran. The surge followed a bold statement from US President Donald Trump, who warned of targeting critical Iranian infrastructure unless the Strait of Hormuz remains open for maritime traffic.
On Sunday, Trump issued a strongly worded message on his social media platform, Truth Social, demanding that Iran “open the Fuckin’ Strait” by Tuesday. His threat included attacks on power plants and bridges, which he claimed would force the country into a “Hell” scenario. The post concluded with a religious exclamation: “Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!”
Meanwhile, OPEC+—a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia—agreed to a modest output boost of 206,000 barrels per day in May. However, this increase is likely symbolic, as several key members face constraints due to the ongoing conflict disrupting energy logistics.
Iran’s threats to block the Strait of Hormuz have already caused significant delays in oil shipments from the Middle East. The narrow waterway, which handles a fifth of global energy trade, has been a flashpoint since February 28, when Tehran vowed retaliation for US and Israeli strikes on its facilities.
Iranian military actions continued over the weekend, with the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatening to escalate attacks on US economic assets if civilian infrastructure is further targeted. Trump, meanwhile, delayed deadlines for Iran to ease its blockade but reiterated his stance through a separate post, specifying the time: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”
Analysts noted that Trump’s rhetoric played a key role in driving prices up, following his earlier warnings that US strikes could push Iran “back to the Stone Ages.” Despite this, the Iranian military dismissed his demands as “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid,” predicting that “the gates of hell will open” for the US leader.