Iran warns it will block regional oil sales if its exports are halted

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said his country will not allow oil to be sold in the region if Iran is prevented from selling its own oil, in reference to US attempts to block Iranian oil exports.

Ghalibaf, quoted by Asharq, added that the rules of conflict are clear: "Either everyone sells oil, or no one does. No one will be able to sell oil in a region where we cannot sell ours."

He stressed, "As long as Iran's infrastructure is not secure, no infrastructure will be secure."

He continued: "The security of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the absence of US forces in the region, and we have repeatedly said the strait will not return to its previous state."

It is worth noting that the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, 2026, which was followed by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran responded with attacks on US and Israeli targets and in Gulf states, before a ceasefire agreement was reached in April 2026.

Between July 8 and 24, 2026, the United States resumed attacks on Iran, and Tehran retaliated by targeting "US military facilities and equipment" in Arab countries as well as Arab infrastructure and civilian sites, before talks resumed on safe shipping corridors in the Strait of Hormuz.