Tehran: Tensions between Iran and the United States sharpened further after Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Washington’s pressure tactics and warned that global oil prices could climb even higher in the coming days.
In a pointed message shared online, Ghalibaf mocked earlier remarks by Donald Trump, who had predicted severe damage to Iran’s oil infrastructure under sustained economic and naval pressure. As the timeline passed without such developments, the Iranian leader ridiculed the claim, suggesting that the strategy had failed to deliver the intended results.
Instead, Tehran argues that the US-led maritime restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to tightening global supply, pushing crude prices sharply upward. Benchmark rates have already crossed the $120-per-barrel mark, with Iranian officials warning that prices could approach $140 if disruptions persist.
Ghalibaf also criticised the policy advice guiding Washington’s approach, specifically naming Scott Bessent, and claimed that reliance on economic pressure alone reflects flawed strategic thinking. According to him, such measures have had unintended consequences for international markets rather than weakening Iran’s resilience.
The US, however, continues to defend its stance, maintaining that restricting Iran’s oil exports is essential to force concessions on broader security and nuclear concerns. The blockade is seen as a key lever in ongoing efforts to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table.
With crude supply routes under strain and geopolitical uncertainty rising, analysts warn that prolonged confrontation around the Gulf region could have far-reaching implications for global energy markets and inflation trends worldwide.
