Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Mar 10: Iran has asserted that it will decide when the ongoing conflict ends, responding sharply to remarks made by US President Donald Trump suggesting that the war in Iran could conclude soon.
In a statement, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said the decision on ending the conflict lies solely with Tehran and not with Washington.
“It is we who will determine the end of the war,” the IRGC said, 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.”
The statement came after Trump told Republican lawmakers at his golf club near Miami that the military action in the Middle East would likely be short-lived.
“We took a little excursion to the Middle East to get rid of some evil. And I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion,” Trump said.
However, the US leader warned Iran against disrupting global oil supplies through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post, Trump said if Iran attempts to block oil flow through the strait, the United States would respond “twenty times harder” than previous strikes.
The conflict has already caused significant disruptions to global energy markets. Oil prices briefly surged to their highest levels since 2022 after Iran named Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. Analysts interpreted the move as a sign that Tehran was preparing for a prolonged confrontation with the United States and Israel.
The war has severely impacted energy supplies moving through the Gulf region. Nearly 20 percent of the world’s crude oil normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making the waterway a critical artery for the global economy.
According to reports, Iran has blocked the passage of most oil tankers through the strait in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes. Around ten vessels in or near the waterway have reportedly come under attack.
International efforts are now focused on restoring safe passage through the strait. French President Emmanuel Macron said France and its allies are considering a “purely defensive” mission to reopen the shipping route.
Meanwhile, global shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced that it was halting certain export shipments from the Gulf region due to the escalating tensions.
Energy infrastructure across the region has also been affected. Bahrain’s state-owned energy firm Bapco declared “force majeure” following a strike on the Al Ma’ameer oil facility that triggered a fire, joining companies in Qatar and Kuwait that warned of possible disruptions to exports.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry also reported that it had intercepted a drone targeting an oil field in the kingdom’s eastern region near the United Arab Emirates border.
Amid the escalating crisis, Trump also held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, Putin proposed several ideas aimed at achieving a quick political and diplomatic settlement following discussions with Gulf leaders and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.