TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on Tuesday that it would prevent any oil shipments from leaving the Middle East if military attacks by the United States and Israel persist. The warning prompted Donald Trump to caution that Washington would respond with far more severe strikes if Iran interfered with energy exports from the region.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, global markets reacted differently. Oil prices dropped sharply while international stock markets climbed, partly after Trump expressed optimism that the fighting could end soon. His comments came shortly after Iran installed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader, a move widely seen as a sign of resistance.
Trump said earlier that U.S. military operations had already caused significant damage to Iran’s armed forces. He also predicted the war would end sooner than the four-week timeline he had previously mentioned, though he has not clearly explained what would constitute victory.
According to Israel, its primary objective is to bring down Iran’s clerical leadership.
Meanwhile, American officials have largely described Washington’s goal as eliminating Iran’s missile systems and nuclear programme. Trump, however, has suggested that the conflict would only conclude once Iran adopts a government willing to cooperate with the U.S.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations reported that at least 1,332 civilians have been killed and thousands more injured since the United States and Israel launched widespread air and missile strikes across Iran in late February.
