For the second time in recent days, Ali Larijani — head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and top advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — has issued a stark warning regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking on behalf of the Islamic Republic, Larijani emphasized Tehran’s firm stance on regional security and the future of international maritime navigation through one of the world’s most critical waterways.
Sharp Rhetoric Against U.S. and French Leaders
In recent statements, Larijani directly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron over plans to deploy military forces in the Strait of Hormuz. On March 9, 2026, he dismissed Trump’s threats as ‘empty,’ urging him to ‘be careful — lest he be erased himself.’
The following day, March 10, 2026, Larijani posted on social media: ‘The Strait of Hormuz will either be a strait of peace and prosperity for all — or a strait of defeat and suffering for warmongers.’
Strategic Chokepoint Under Pressure
The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea — is vital to global oil trade, with about 20% of the world’s petroleum passing through it daily. Traffic has slowed dramatically since Iranian retaliatory actions began following U.S. and Israeli military operations in the region.
Tehran has repeatedly warned that it may fully close the strait if hostilities escalate further — a move that would severely disrupt global energy markets and trigger widespread geopolitical consequences.