Iran Rejects Ceasefire as Explosions Rock Tehran

Iran has rejected calls for a ceasefire, even as explosions shook Tehran and tensions rose sharply around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping lane. The conflict, triggered by US–Israeli strikes on February 28 that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has spread rapidly across the Middle East, disrupting energy markets worldwide.

Iranian parliament speaker Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Tehran has no interest in halting the conflict. “Certainly we aren’t seeking a ceasefire,” he wrote on social media, adding that “the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson to deter them from attacking Iran again.” The Pentagon confirmed that Tuesday saw its most intense wave of strikes inside Iran since the conflict began, deploying “the most fighters and the most bombers” to date. In response, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched fresh missile barrages on Israeli cities and US military targets, while explosions were also reported in Manama, Bahrain.

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The crisis has centred on the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20–25% of the world’s oil exports transit. Iranian attacks on shipping and threats to block the strait have already forced a halt in tanker traffic. US President Donald Trump warned that placing mines in the waterway would provoke military consequences “never seen before,” as US intelligence cited Iran laying explosives in the channel. Energy infrastructure across the Gulf is increasingly at risk. The UAE’s largest refinery at Ruwais shut down temporarily after a drone strike sparked a fire, while Qatari LNG exports have been disrupted, pushing European gas prices higher. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser warned that restoring shipping in the strait is “absolutely critical” to avoid severe global repercussions.

The global economic impact of the conflict is mounting. The United Nations cautioned that continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz could raise the cost of essentials worldwide, particularly fuel and food. In Cairo, residents report that higher fuel prices are already affecting daily life. Analysts warn that the conflict’s ongoing uncertainty could further destabilize global markets, driving oil and gas prices higher while increasing inflationary pressures on essentials.

The human cost of the conflict continues to rise. Hundreds of military and civilian casualties have been reported on both sides, with explosions and missile strikes in Tehran and neighboring regions terrifying residents. Despite efforts by other nations to mediate, neither Iran nor the US shows readiness to de-escalate, leaving the Middle East on edge and international markets bracing for further volatility.

Iran Rejects Ceasefire as Explosions Rock Tehran

Iran Security Chief Fires Warning at Trump as US-Iran Tensions Escalate

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated sharply as Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued a direct warning to President Donald Trump amid the ongoing Middle East war and heightened regional hostilities. The warning comes after Trump threatened decisive action if Iran disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint for global energy supplies.

In a message posted on X, Larijani said: “The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.” He dismissed Trump’s rhetoric as hollow and emphasized Iran’s resilience, signaling potential consequences for any aggressive actions targeting the country.

The warning follows Trump’s post declaring that the US would respond twenty times harder if Iran interfered with oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, describing such moves as a serious threat to global energy security. Analysts say Larijani’s statement reflects Tehran’s strategy of strong public messaging to deter escalation while asserting the country’s influence in the Gulf.

Escalating Military and Regional Context

The rhetoric coincides with heightened military activity in the Gulf. US forces have conducted intense airstrikes on Iranian positions, while Tehran has launched missile and drone attacks targeting US and allied sites. The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about global oil supply and triggering volatility in international energy markets.

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Experts warn that the exchange of threats increases the risk of miscalculation or unintended clashes between US and Iranian forces. The standoff has also drawn attention from global leaders urging de-escalation, including calls for diplomatic interventions to prevent the conflict from spilling further across the region.

Strategic and Economic Implications

Iran’s warning comes at a time when global oil markets are highly sensitive, with prices spiking due to fears of supply disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world’s crude passes, remains a focal point of international concern. Analysts note that both Tehran and Washington are using public rhetoric as a psychological strategy, signaling strength to domestic and international audiences while attempting to influence energy markets.

The message underscores how the ongoing US-Iran standoff extends beyond military posturing, affecting regional security, global trade, and energy stability. Observers say continued escalation could have profound consequences for the Middle East, international shipping, and global oil prices.

Iran Security Chief Fires Warning at Trump as US-Iran Tensions Escalate

Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Iran Threatens to Stop Gulf Oil Shipments

Iran has threatened to halt oil exports from the Gulf region as its conflict with the United States and Israel intensifies, raising fears of a major disruption to global energy supplies.

The warning comes despite assurances from Donald Trump that the war could soon come to an end.

Tehran’s stance follows attacks on vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical maritime corridor through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil passes to markets in Asia and Europe.

The waterway connects major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates to global energy markets, making it one of the most important chokepoints for international oil trade.

The disruption has already unsettled global oil markets and heightened concerns over possible oil supply shortages.

Earlier in the week, oil prices surged above $100 per barrel after reports that Iranian strikes and rising security risks forced shipping traffic to slow across the Gulf. Prices later eased after Trump said the war would be “ended soon,” helping calm markets that had reacted sharply to the escalating tensions.

However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed the claim, insisting that neither Tehran nor Washington would determine when the war ends.

According to the IRGC, the Iranian armed forces “will not allow the export of a single litre of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice.”

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Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, also signalled the country was ready for a prolonged confrontation.

He said Iran was prepared to continue missile strikes against its enemies “as long as needed and as long as it takes,” while suggesting that further diplomatic negotiations with Washington were unlikely in the near term.

Meanwhile, countries across the region are moving to contain the fallout from the escalating crisis.

In Egypt, authorities have raised fuel prices by as much as 30 per cent in response to rising global oil costs, while Pakistan has offered naval escorts for commercial vessels travelling through the Gulf to protect shipping lanes.

France has also deployed warships to the region to help secure maritime traffic amid fears of further attacks on tankers.

Energy industry leaders have warned that a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could have severe consequences for the global economy.

The chief executive of Saudi Aramco, Amin Nasser, cautioned that the longer the disruption continues, the more serious the impact on global oil markets.

He warned that “catastrophic consequences” could follow if shipping through the vital energy corridor fails to resume quickly.

To reduce the impact of potential disruptions, Saudi Arabia has begun redirecting part of its oil exports through its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, allowing some shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

However, energy analysts say the alternative route cannot fully replace the massive volumes of crude normally transported through the Gulf.

Experts warn that if the conflict escalates further and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is significantly disrupted, as much as 15 million barrels of oil per day could be removed from global supply.

Such a shock could push oil prices toward $150 per barrel, trigger higher global fuel prices, and intensify inflation pressures across economies worldwide.

Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Iran Threatens to Stop Gulf Oil Shipments