Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament), threatened U.S. oil and gas companies and infrastructure in the region with attacks in response to statements by the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
On Monday, September 7, Ghalibaf posted on his official account on X (formerly Twitter): “It is simple and understandable: the oil and gas production chain in this extensive and dispersed region is accessible and vulnerable.”
He added: “American oil and gas companies operating in these waters and facilities are equally vulnerable.”
Addressing the U.S. Secretary of Defense directly, the Speaker of Parliament wrote: “If you attack our assets, you will be attacked; we have previously demonstrated this capability. Ask your military bases that have been rendered non-operational.”
Ghalibaf’s warning followed statements by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who shared video footage of strikes on Iranian oil tankers alongside a post from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Hegseth warned that if Iran targets American vessels, the United States will target Iranian tankers.
Hegseth wrote: “It’s simple: if Iran fires on American ships, we will destroy and sink their tankers. All they have to do is not fire at the U.S. Navy.”
Hegseth further characterized Iran’s tanker fleet as “defenseless,” claiming that Iran lacks effective naval or air power, while U.S. aircraft, ships, and submarines maintain the capacity to target these vessels.
Ghalibaf’s threat against U.S. oil and gas assets in the region comes as the U.S. military has launched strikes targeting Iranian oil tankers in recent days.