Iran announced a major shift in its military stance, declaring that its previous policy of retaliatory attacks has ended. In a statement from Tehran’s Khatam al-Anbia military command headquarters, spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said the country will now follow a 'strike for strike' approach. He warned that Iran will not allow even a single liter of oil to pass through the Hormuz Strait to the United States, Israel, or their partners.

Zolfaghari further stated that any ship or tanker loyal to those nations would be considered a legitimate target. He cautioned that oil prices could reach 200 dollars per barrel, linking the potential surge to regional security conditions that he claimed have been undermined by those countries. The remarks underscore heightened tensions surrounding the strategic waterway, a vital route for global energy shipments.

The statement comes amid reports of rising oil prices in 85 countries since the start of the Iran conflict and a recent attack on a Thailand-bound Indian vessel in the Hormuz Strait.