Tehran Threatens to Block Saudi, UAE Oil Exports in 'Oil-for-Oil' Doctrine

Iran has issued a stern warning to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, threatening to block their oil exports if Washington continues to prevent Tehran from shipping its crude. The move is seen as a tit-for-tat response to US sanctions on Iran's petroleum industry. According to senior IRGC official Aziz Ghazanfari, if other Gulf states can't export safely, it would be unfair for them to expect uninterrupted shipments through regional waters.

The 'oil-for-oil' doctrine, as Tehran calls it, argues that hostile powers cannot eliminate Iran's petroleum exports while expecting Saudi, Emirati, Kuwaiti or Iraqi crude to move freely. Approximately one-fifth of the world's traded petroleum passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making disruption a serious risk for global fuel prices.

While a complete closure would carry significant risks for Iran, including further American strikes and tensions with neighboring countries and China, Tehran remains resolute in its stance. The central message is clear: there will be no one-sided blockade whose economic consequences remain confined inside Iran.