Oil back above $110 after expletive-laden Trump threat to Iran
Oil Prices Climb Above $110 Amid Trump’s Forceful Iran Threat
Following a bold statement from U.S. President Donald Trump, who vowed to target key Iranian infrastructure unless the vital Strait of Hormuz remained open, global oil prices surged past $110 a barrel. Asian markets opened with Brent crude climbing 1.6% to $110.85 per barrel, and U.S. crude trading at $112.40, up 0.8%.
Tehran has escalated tensions by threatening to attack vessels navigating the narrow strait, which accounts for roughly one-fifth of the world’s energy shipments. This has disrupted Middle Eastern oil and gas exports, prompting fears of higher inflation worldwide. The crisis has intensified as Iran’s attacks on oil facilities in the Gulf persisted over the weekend, with Tehran claiming responsibility for strikes on petrochemical plants in Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Trump’s warnings came in a strongly-worded post on Truth Social, where he set a firm deadline for Iran to lift its threats against ships. Hours later, he reiterated the timeline, specifying “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” as the critical moment. The president hinted at potential military action, stating there was a “good chance” an agreement would be reached on Monday, but warned of “blowing everything up and taking over the oil” if no deal emerged soon.
OPEC+—comprising key oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and Russia—approved a modest output boost of 206,000 barrels per day for May. However, the 206,000 barrels-per-day increase is unlikely to materialize fully, as key OPEC+ members face constraints from the ongoing conflict.
Senior Iranian military officer Gen Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi dismissed an earlier Trump deadline, calling it “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid,” and added that “the gates of hell will open” for the U.S. leader. The remarks underscored Tehran’s defiance amid rising global energy costs and political uncertainty in the region.
