Iran warned that it would launch long and painful strikes against U.S. positions if Washington renewed attacks, a threat that has pushed Brent crude to a four‑year high above $120 a barrel.
The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, choking off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies and sending global energy prices surging.
Brent crude rose to more than $126 a barrel at one point before easing to around $113, while prices have doubled since the war began on Feb. 28. The closure has also forced companies such as Amazon to delay the restoration of its cloud regions in Bahrain and the UAE for months after damage from the conflict.
Majid Mousavi, an Aerospace Force commander, said Iran would respond with long and painful strikes on U.S. warships. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that foreigners have no place in the strait, and U.N. Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres cautioned that prolonged choking would hurt global growth and push millions into poverty.
The U.S. is considering a coalition called Maritime Freedom Construct to reopen the strait, and ground forces could be used to secure part of the waterway. If hostilities cease, the MFC could provide a post‑conflict maritime security architecture that may stabilize prices and ease supply disruptions.
