Trump warns Iran they will be hit ’20 times harder’ if they block oil flow from Strait of Hormuz

New Delhi, Mar 10: US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Tuesday they will be hit ‘twenty times harder’ and ‘death, fire and fury’ will reign on them if they stop the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz.

‘If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,’ Trump said on his social media platform.

He said that additionally, US will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again.

‘Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them,’ Trump warned and hoped that it does not happen!

He described the warning as a ‘a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait.’

He hoped this ‘gesture’ will be greatly appreciated.

As of March 10, the Strait of Hormuz is experiencing a near-total collapse in commercial traffic. While no formal legal closure has been declared, the waterway is effectively shut for most international shipping due to extreme operational risks and the withdrawal of war risk insurance.

Commercial traffic has dropped to near zero. Major carriers like Maersk, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd have suspended transits, rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.

Ever since the war began on February 28, at least eight seafarers have been killed and multiple tankers damaged by drone and missile strikes.

On March 6, a UAE-flagged tugboat, Musaffah 2, sank after an explosion, leaving three crew members missing.

On March 7, the Maltese-flagged tanker Prima was reportedly struck by an Iranian drone.

India is weighing options to escort 36 Indian-flagged vessels currently stuck in the region.

France has announced preparations for a “purely defensive” mission to escort vessels once the most intense phase of the war subsides.

As a result of the blockade, crude prices surged to 120 USD per barrel on March 9 before retreating to approximately 88–90 USD.

Kuwait and Qatar have declared force majeure on some energy contracts as tankers remain unable to safely exit the Persian Gulf.

(Force majeure is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war, strike, riot, crime, epidemic, or sudden legal change prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract.)

Iran’s IRGC claims “complete control” over it. But the Strait is effectively closed to Western-aligned commercial traffic.

However, there are exceptions. Some Chinese-flagged vessels have successfully transited by broadcasting their status via AIS.

About 25–27 per cent of all oil traded by sea worldwide passes through the Strait. Roughly 20 per cent (one-fifth) of total global oil consumption flows through these waters.

According to the US Energy Administration, about 84 per cent–89 per cent of the crude oil and 83 per cent of the LNG passing through the strait is destined for Asia.

India, China, Japan, and South Korea accounted for 74 per cent of all crude oil and condensate flows in the first half of 2025.