Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran could retaliate against regional energy infrastructure and halt oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz if Iranian energy assets are attacked. The waterway, separating Iran from the Arabian Peninsula, carries roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Ghalibaf said on September 3, "Either all or none," linking the security of Iran’s energy exports to oil shipments from neighboring Gulf states. His warning came days before U.S. forces reportedly struck three Iranian tankers—the M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1 and M/T Kylo—between September 5 and 6 after alleged missile attacks on U.S. Navy ships. He identified Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, as a potential flashpoint and warned that an attack could pull the United States into an "endless quagmire." The confrontation formally escalated on February 28, 2026, when the United States imposed naval blockades and began direct strikes on Iranian assets under "Operation Economic Outcast," alongside economic sanctions. Iran has demanded that U.S. forces leave the region before normal Strait of Hormuz transit resumes. The strait is about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, while tanker shipping lanes are narrower. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq depend heavily on the waterway for crude exports, meaning disruption could affect global oil markets. Even without an attack, a loss of tanker insurance could reduce effective supply. Ghalibaf’s position suggests Tehran is prepared to absorb substantial economic costs to impose comparable or greater costs on its adversaries.