Iran has warned Gulf Arab states against siding with the United States in its economic campaign against Tehran, threatening to shut down all oil exports from the Persian Gulf if regional countries cooperate with Washington.
The warning came from Iran’s newly appointed Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, who said any Gulf state that joins the American economic war would face severe consequences.
“If the countries surrounding Iran join the Americans in their economic war, not a drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” Rezaei said, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. “We will also target other oil export routes from the Persian Gulf.”
The threat coincides with a significant move by Iran’s parliament to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil supply passes. Lawmakers have approved a provision allowing Tehran to charge fees to vessels from countries it authorizes to transit the waterway.
The proposed charges would cover maritime and navigation services, environmental services, fuel supplies under special circumstances, insurance, and safety and security services provided during transit.
Hassan Qashqavi, spokesperson for the parliamentary commission that approved the measure, said the fees could be paid in Iranian rials or another currency designated by Tehran. The proposal still requires approval from the full parliament and review by the Guardian Council before becoming law.
The moves come as the Trump administration prepares to intensify economic pressure on Tehran, shifting strategy after months of direct military confrontation that has left 774 US service members casualties, including 18 deaths, according to Pentagon figures.
The new US approach is expected to combine additional sanctions, a naval blockade, and pressure on countries continuing to trade with Iran. China, India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates could face particular scrutiny due to their economic ties with Tehran.
Iranian officials have framed the strait fee proposal as consistent with international law, citing the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. But the timing suggests Tehran is moving to consolidate control over the waterway ahead of anticipated US economic pressure.
Rezaei also used his warning to criticize President Trump’s handling of the conflict, arguing that US attacks have increased global interest in acquiring nuclear weapons.
“Trump’s recklessness, with his attacks on Iran, has increased the desire of people around the world to acquire nuclear weapons, especially when they saw that membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nonproliferation Treaty was ineffective in preventing attacks from the United States,” he said.
The escalating rhetoric has raised concerns among energy analysts, who warn that any significant disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could send global oil prices soaring and strain already fragile supply chains.
Tehran has already demonstrated its ability to restrict access selectively. In recent weeks, it has allowed some vessels, including a number of Iraqi oil tankers, to transit while limiting wider commercial movement—underscoring the calculated nature of its control over the waterway.
As Washington finalizes its economic strategy and Tehran pushes forward with legislation to formalize its authority over the strait, the Persian Gulf is rapidly emerging as the central theater in an increasingly volatile confrontation between the two longtime adversaries.
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