Iranian officials warned that blocking its oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz would have severe global consequences, especially if the U.S. continues military operations without allowing neutral shipping. The statement reflects Tehran's leverage in the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict — Iran controls a chokepoint through which roughly a tenth of global oil passes, and any closure or attacks on tankers would spike energy prices worldwide. What's missing: the post doesn't clarify that the U.S. military presence in the region is actually being used to *protect* shipping from Iranian threats, not to free-ride on security — Iran has been attacking tankers and threatening the strait as a negotiating tactic, so the framing inverts the actual dispute over who is threatening security.