Strait of Hormuz, more big news! Iran, a major warning!

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran issues a major warning!

According to CCTV News, on March 11 local time, the spokesperson for Iran’s Hatham Anbia Central Command warned that Iran is fully capable of blocking the Strait of Hormuz. He also stated that not even a single liter of oil will be allowed to pass through the Strait if it benefits the United States and its allies.

On the same day, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office reported that a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile. This is the second such incident reported within about two hours.

Additionally, Iran issued a new warning, stating it will retaliate against the US and Israel for their economic targets in the Middle East, and advised the public to stay away from banks and other potential targets.

Iran Warns of Retaliation Against US and Israeli Bank Targets

According to CCTV News, on March 11 local time, the spokesperson for Iran’s Hatham Anbia Central Command issued a statement warning that Iran may retaliate against the US and Israel for their economic targets in the region, and urged the public to stay away from banks and other potential targets.

The spokesperson stated that on the 10th, US and Israeli forces attacked a bank facility inside Iran. The statement pointed out that when military targets failed to achieve their objectives, the US and Israel turned to attacking Iran’s economic infrastructure.

The statement described this action as “an illegal and unusual practice in wartime,” and said it has “opened the door for Iran to strike US and Israeli economic targets in the region.” The warning also said the US should be prepared for a “painful response.”

The statement advised regional residents to avoid staying within one kilometer of banks to ensure safety.

Major Update from the Strait of Hormuz

According to CCTV News, on March 11 local time, Iran’s Hatham Anbia Central Command warned that Iran is fully capable of blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The spokesperson clearly stated, “We will not allow even a single liter of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz if it benefits the US and its allies.”

He also said that Western attempts to manipulate global oil and energy prices through external interference are doomed to fail.

Furthermore, on March 11, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued the “Real Commitment 4” Operation No. 31, announcing significant strikes against US military bases in the Gulf.

The IRGC claimed that from late night March 10 to early morning March 11, the Revolutionary Guard Navy launched the 38th wave of attacks under the code name “Real Commitment 4.” The Udairi helicopter base in Kuwait was hit by two rounds of intense missile attacks. Reports indicate many US soldiers were injured, with over 100 wounded sent to hospitals.

Additionally, key facilities at the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet hub—Mina Salman Port in Bahrain—were damaged, with critical infrastructure struck. US military dormitories and equipment depots at the Patriot missile camp in Kuwait, the Muhammad Ayyad Naval Base, and Al Salim Air Force Base also suffered severe damage.

The IRGC stated that the war will only end when the clouds of conflict completely lift from Iran.

A UN Conference on Trade and Development report released on the 10th noted that rising tensions in the Middle East have severely disrupted shipping activities through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially causing chain reactions affecting global energy supplies, shipping costs, and food prices, and increasing economic pressure on developing countries.

The report highlighted that about a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Due to escalating regional tensions, vessel traffic through the strait has recently declined significantly. During the conflict escalation, daily passage rates once plummeted by about 97%. Shipping disruptions have quickly impacted energy markets. From February 27 to March 9, Dutch TTF natural gas futures prices, a European benchmark, rose approximately 74%, while London Brent crude futures increased about 27%.

Energy market analyst Sasha Fouse told CNBC on Wednesday, “The key factor remains the duration of the conflict. Releasing IEA reserves can only buy a few days of buffer; ultimately, everything depends on whether the Strait of Hormuz can reopen. The conflict must end by this weekend, or oil prices will surge back above $100.”

Other market observers also warned that prolonged US-Iran tensions could push oil prices above $100 again. Investment firm Ninety One’s Global Natural Resources Head Paul Guden said in a Tuesday report, “If tensions ease in the coming weeks, prices might fall… but even then, they are unlikely to return to the $60–$70 range seen earlier this year. If the blockade continues longer, the consequences will be more severe. Prices could further spike, potentially surpassing $120 or higher, until high oil prices start to suppress demand.”

On March 11, German Federal Economics and Energy Minister Katrin Göring-Eckardt announced at a press conference that Germany plans to release some of its national oil reserves to cope with the sharp rise in oil and fuel prices caused by the Iran conflict.

Göring-Eckardt said the German federal government plans to limit fuel price hikes to once per day and will allow price reductions at any time.

The International Energy Agency held a G7 energy ministers’ meeting on the 10th. Göring-Eckardt stated that the IEA has asked its member countries to release 400 million barrels of oil reserves, and Germany plans to contribute its share.

According to CCTV News, on the evening of the 11th, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that, due to escalating tensions in Iran, the Japanese government plans to release the national oil reserves as early as the 16th of this month.

Additionally, Kishida said that if crude oil prices continue to rise, gasoline prices are also expected to increase. The Japanese government will take measures to ease the impact of sharp price fluctuations, aiming to keep the nationwide average retail gasoline price around 170 yen per liter.

Layout: Liu Junyu

Proofreading: Liao Shengchao