Iran warns of retaliation over energy infrastructure attacks as tensions between Tehran and Washington deepen following U.S. military strikes near one of the country’s most vital oil export hubs. The warning was issued Saturday by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who said any assault on Iran’s oil facilities would trigger a sweeping response against energy infrastructure linked to American companies across the Middle East.
Speaking in an interview with the U.S. broadcaster MS Now, Araghchi addressed the growing confrontation between Iran and the United States that escalated after American forces targeted military installations on Kharg Island. The island, located in the northern Gulf, serves as Iran’s main crude oil export terminal and has long been considered a strategic cornerstone of the country’s energy sector.
The Iranian minister said the country’s military had already outlined its response strategy in the event of attacks on oil infrastructure.
“Our armed forces have already stated that they will retaliate if our oil and energy infrastructure is attacked,” Araghchi said. “They will strike any energy facility in the region that belongs to or is partially owned by an American company.”
His remarks came just one day after Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had carried out heavy strikes on military targets on Kharg Island. Although the attacks avoided the island’s oil export facilities, the U.S. president warned that the decision could change if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupted.
The Iranian warning signals the possibility that energy infrastructure throughout the Middle East could become a target if the confrontation escalates further.
Iran warns of retaliation over energy infrastructure attacks not only within its own territory but across the wider region. Officials in Tehran have repeatedly suggested that American-linked facilities—whether owned by U.S. corporations or operated by allied governments—could face strikes if Iran’s oil sector comes under attack.
Energy infrastructure across the Gulf region includes refineries, pipelines, export terminals and storage sites operated by multinational companies. Many of these facilities serve as critical hubs for global oil and gas supply.
A coordinated strike campaign against such infrastructure could disrupt global energy markets and trigger a broader regional crisis.
Araghchi emphasized that Tehran would not initiate attacks on civilian areas, but he warned that military operations launched from populated locations would create dangerous risks.
During the interview, Araghchi also made claims about the origins of the U.S. strikes on Kharg Island.
According to the Iranian minister, the attacks were launched from two locations within the United Arab Emirates. He identified one site in Ras Al-Khaimah and another area near Dubai.
The United States has not confirmed those claims.
However, Araghchi warned that launching attacks from densely populated areas would endanger civilians.
“Using populated regions to launch attacks against Iran is highly dangerous,” he said.
Despite the warning, the Iranian foreign minister said his country would attempt to avoid striking civilian zones even if it retaliates.
“We would certainly retaliate, but we try to avoid hitting populated areas,” he added.
The warning issued by the Iranian foreign minister was reinforced by statements from the country’s top military command.
Iran warns of retaliation over energy infrastructure attacks was echoed by the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates Iran’s armed forces during wartime.
The command said any strike targeting Iran’s oil, economic or energy infrastructure would trigger immediate retaliation.
According to the official statement, energy facilities connected to U.S. interests across the Middle East would become legitimate targets.
“All oil, economic, and energy infrastructure linked to U.S. interests will be destroyed and reduced to a pile of ashes,” spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari told the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
The unusually blunt warning underscores the seriousness with which Tehran views potential threats to its oil sector.
Iran’s economy relies heavily on crude oil exports, and Kharg Island plays a central role in maintaining those shipments.
Despite the growing tensions, Iranian officials say the Strait of Hormuz remains open to most shipping traffic.
Araghchi said commercial vessels continue to pass through the strategic waterway, although some companies have chosen to reroute ships because of security concerns.
The strait connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and serves as one of the most important energy corridors in the world. A significant portion of global oil trade moves through the narrow passage each day.
Iran warns of retaliation over energy infrastructure attacks but has not announced any closure of the strait.
However, the minister said vessels belonging to Iran’s “enemies and their allies” would not be allowed to use the waterway safely.
That remark has added to concerns among shipping companies and energy traders, who fear that even limited disruptions could affect global oil supplies.
Oil exports continue from Kharg Island
Even after the U.S. strikes, Iranian officials say oil export operations on Kharg Island are continuing without interruption.
Ehsan Jahanian, deputy governor of Bushehr Province, told the semi-official Tasnim News Agency that the strikes damaged military installations and the island’s airport.
However, he said there were no reported casualties.
More importantly for Iran’s economy, commercial operations at the oil export terminal were not affected.
“Oil loading and export activities are continuing,” Jahanian said, adding that infrastructure used for shipping crude remained intact.
Kharg Island handles the majority of Iran’s crude exports, making it one of the most important energy facilities in the Middle East.
The island’s deep-water terminals allow supertankers to load crude oil before transporting it to markets in Asia and other regions.
Because of its strategic value, the facility has long been heavily defended by Iranian military forces.
The latest confrontation between Iran and its adversaries follows a dramatic escalation earlier this year.
On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting military and political sites in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
According to Iranian officials, the attacks killed hundreds of people and destroyed several military facilities.
Among those killed was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior commanders from the country’s armed forces.
Iranian authorities say more than 1,300 civilians also died during the attacks.
In response, Iran launched waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli positions and American military bases across the Middle East.
The retaliatory attacks marked one of the most intense exchanges of military force in the region in years.
Security analysts warn that the conflict could escalate further if additional strikes occur against energy infrastructure.
As Iran warns of retaliation over energy infrastructure attacks, energy markets around the world are closely monitoring the situation.
Any disruption involving Iran’s oil export facilities or Gulf energy infrastructure could send global oil prices sharply higher.
The Persian Gulf region remains one of the world’s most important energy production centers, supplying millions of barrels of oil each day to international markets.
Because of this central role, even limited damage to major export terminals, pipelines or refineries could have far-reaching economic consequences.
Shipping companies and energy traders have already begun assessing potential risks to tanker routes and offshore facilities.
Insurance costs for vessels operating in the region have also risen as the confrontation between Iran and the United States intensifies.
For now, oil shipments from Kharg Island continue and the Strait of Hormuz remains open.
But with both sides issuing increasingly sharp warnings, the possibility of further escalation remains a major concern for governments, energy markets and security analysts around the world.
