---
title: "Iran Threatens to Strike Alternative Persian Gulf Oil Routes: \"Not a Single Drop of Oil Will Leave the Region\""
description: "Iran's National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei stated on August 22 that if regional countries join US sanctions, Tehran will strike alternative Persian Gulf oil routes. The Strait of Hormuz, he said, will remain closed until Washington changes its position."
date: 2026-08-23T11:55:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/iran-threatens-alternative-oil-routes-persian-gulf-en
tags: [iran, oil, strait-of-hormuz, us-sanctions, persian-gulf, mohsen-rezai, energy-security]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Iran Threatens to Strike Alternative Persian Gulf Oil Routes: "Not a Single Drop of Oil Will Leave the Region"

![Iranian military leader in uniform making a statement on threats to Persian Gulf oil routes](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/23/iran-threatens-alternative-oil-routes-persian-gulf/iran-threatens-alternative-oil-routes-persian-gulf-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Mohsen Rezaei stated on August 22, 2026, that Iran is ready to attack not only tankers in the Strait of Hormuz but also other Persian Gulf oil export routes
- The threat is conditional in nature: it is activated if regional countries join US sanctions against Iran
- The Strait of Hormuz, according to Rezaei, "will remain closed" until the US changes its behavior, confirming its de facto blockade
- The US Navy is escorting about 5 million barrels of oil per day through the Strait of Oman as an alternative route
- Earlier, at the end of July 2026, Iranian attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz were recorded, and the UAE Foreign Ministry reported an attack on a tanker

### Threat of Expansion: Iran Targets Alternative Oil Routes

Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated on state television on the evening of August 22, 2026, that the Islamic Republic is prepared to strike not only oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz but also other oil processing and export routes out of the Persian Gulf. According to him, if regional countries join the US sanctions against Iran, "not a single drop of oil will be transported from the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz." Rezaei emphasized that in such a scenario, Iran would "consider other routes for exporting oil from the region as its targets."

### Escalation Conditions: Tied to US Sanctions Policy

Rezaei's statement is clearly conditional in nature: the threat to expand the geography of strikes is activated by one specific condition — the participation of neighboring countries in the US economic war against Iran. "We call on all neighboring countries not to participate in the US economic war against Iran, otherwise Iran will consider them enemies," the general stated on live broadcast. At the same time, he stressed that Tehran "does not want to escalate the conflict," but added: if the neighbors support Washington in the sanctions pressure, this would "damage Iran's interests," which, by his logic, would be regarded as an act of hostility.

### Status of the Strait of Hormuz: "Will Remain Closed"

Separately, Rezaei stated that the Strait of Hormuz "will remain closed until the United States changes its behavior." The wording "will remain closed" indicates that the strait is already in a state of de facto blockade or restricted transit. Earlier, at the end of July 2026, attacks by Iranian forces on tankers attempting to pass through the strait were recorded, and the UAE Foreign Ministry publicly reported an Iranian attack on a tanker in the region's waters. Thus, Rezaei's threat of August 22 represents not a primary warning but an escalation: after the de facto closure of the strait, Iran declares its intention to shift pressure to alternative channels of oil export.

### Context: The Role of the US Navy and Bypass Routes

According to The New York Times, cited by Ukrainian media, the US Navy is escorting shipments of approximately 5 million barrels of oil per day through the Strait of Oman — a key alternative route that allows bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. This confirms that the logistics of oil export from the Persian Gulf have already been restructured around the American military presence. Iran's threat to "consider other export routes as targets" is aimed precisely at these bypass channels: the Strait of Oman, the ports of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as the coastal infrastructure through which oil is pumped into tankers for further transportation.

### Geopolitical Consequences and Regional Reaction

Rezaei's statement effectively puts the countries of the Persian Gulf in a dilemma: support the US sanctions regime and risk becoming "enemies" of Iran with the corresponding military consequences for their own oil infrastructure, or distance themselves from Washington and maintain neutrality. For the global oil market, where traditionally about 20% of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters, such rhetoric means direct pressure on prices and insurance rates. Tehran, in essence, declares that it is ready to turn the entire Persian Gulf into a risk zone for oil transit if the economic pressure from the US-led coalition is not lifted.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Iran promised to attack other oil export routes as well.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/iran-tuyen-bo-se-tan-cong-cac-tuyen-duong-xuat-khau-dau-khac) - Зеркало основного источника giaoducthoidai.vn. Подтверждает содержание заявления Резаи от 22.08.2026: угроза ударов по альтернативным маршрутам при присоединении соседей к санкциям США.
- [US Navy escorts 5 million barrels of oil per day through Oman — NYT](https://zn.ua/WORLD/flot-ssha-obespechivaet-postavku-5-mln-barrelej-nefti-v-sutki-cherez-oman-nyt.html) - Контекстный источник. Подтверждает наличие обходного маршрута через Оман и роль флота США в обеспечении нефтяного транзита. Цифра 5 млн барр./сутки — по данным NYT.
- [UAE Foreign Ministry reported an Iranian attack on a tanker](https://www.dw.com/ru/v-mid-oae-soobsili-ob-atake-irana-na-tanker/a-78290444) - Контекстный источник. Подтверждает факт атак Ирана на танкеры в регионе, что согласуется с заявлением Резаи о закрытии Ормузского пролива.
- [Iran attacked tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz](https://www.m24.ru/videos/29072026/924704) - Контекстный источник (дата публикации 29.07.2026). Подтверждает, что атаки на танкеры в Ормузском проливе уже происходили до заявления Резаи от 22.08.2026, что согласуется с формулировкой «пролив останется закрытым».

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What exactly did Mohsen Rezaei state on August 22, 2026?
**A:** Rezaei stated that Iran is ready to attack not only tankers in the Strait of Hormuz but also other Persian Gulf oil export routes if regional countries join US sanctions. He also stated that the strait "will remain closed" until Washington changes its behavior.

### Q: Does Iran threaten all countries in the region indiscriminately?
**A:** No. The threat is formulated conditionally: it is activated if a specific country joins US sanctions against Iran. Rezaei directly called on neighbors "not to participate in the economic war" and stated that Iran will consider enemies only those countries that do so.

### Q: Is the Strait of Hormuz closed right now?
**A:** According to Rezaei's wording ("will remain closed"), the strait is in a state of de facto blockade. Earlier, at the end of July 2026, attacks on tankers attempting to pass through the strait were recorded, and the US Navy is escorting oil through the alternative Strait of Oman.

### Q: What volume of oil passes through alternative routes?
**A:** According to NYT, the US Navy is escorting approximately 5 million barrels of oil per day through the Strait of Oman. This is the main bypass channel that, by the logic of Rezaei's statement, could become the next target.