Iran could stop the export of crude oil from the region if attacks by the United States and Israel continue, a spokesperson for Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Tuesday.
"If aggression by the US military and the Zionist regime against Iran and its infrastructure continues, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow the export of even one liter of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice," Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Gen. Ali-Mohammed Naeini said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
IRGC had earlier pledged to target energy facilities across the region in retaliation, warning that oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel if the United States and Israel "continue this game."
The warning came hours after US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran would "end soon." Responding to the remarks, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they would ultimately determine how the conflict concludes.
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"It is we who will determine the end of the war," the Guards said in a statement reported by AFP, adding that "the equations and future status of the region are now in the hands of our armed forces; American forces will not end the war."
Trump, speaking at a news conference in Florida on Monday, said the conflict was nearing its end and claimed the joint military campaign with Israel had already achieved its main objectives.
"It's going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again they'll be hit even harder," he said, without providing a specific timeline.
In earlier remarks to CBS News, Trump said the war was "very complete" and warned Iran against escalating further.
"They've shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute or it's going to be the end of that country," he said. "If they do anything bad, that would be the end of Iran and you'd never hear the name again."
"I think the war is very complete, pretty much," Trump added, claiming Iran's naval, communications and air capabilities had been largely neutralised and that its missile and drone capacities had been severely degraded.
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