Iran has issued a sharp rebuke to former U.S. President Donald Trump following his threats to launch a massive military strike against Iran if it blocks oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Strong Words from Top Iranian Official
Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded on March 10, 2026, calling Trump’s warnings “empty threats.” In a social media post, Larijani warned Trump directly: “The sacrificed nation of Iran does not fear your empty threats. Even those greater than you failed to eliminate Iran. Beware—you may vanish yourself.”
Strait of Hormuz at a Standstill
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes—has nearly halted. Iran has threatened to attack any vessel attempting to transit the strait, triggering global concern and causing temporary spikes in both oil and natural gas prices.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared it will not allow even a single liter of oil to pass through the strait. In response, Trump reportedly threatened to strike Iran with force 20 times more powerful than any previous action if Tehran obstructs oil exports.