US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: The latest US-Iran confrontation has moved beyond threats against military targets and into the energy sector, raising fresh concerns for oil and gas infrastructure across the Gulf. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that American energy interests could face retaliation if Washington continues striking Iranian assets, days after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened Tehran over attacks on US naval vessels.
Ghalibaf issued the warning on Monday as tensions continued to build around the Strait of Hormuz. His remarks came after US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers following attacks targeting American warships, according to US officials. Iran has also threatened stronger responses, creating a new risk for commercial shipping and global energy markets.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Ghalibaf Warns US Oil and Gas Companies
Ghalibaf directly targeted American energy interests in his latest message, arguing that US oil and gas facilities in the region could become vulnerable if the confrontation continues.
“It’s simple: the oil and gas production chain here is sprawling, accessible, and exposed. American oil and gas companies across these waters and facilities share that exposure,” he posted.
“Strike our assets, and you get struck.”
Ghalibaf also claimed that Iran had already demonstrated its ability to respond to American military pressure.
“Ask the bases that are no longer viable.”
He did not identify the bases he was referring to or provide evidence that they had become unusable.
It’s simple: the oil and gas production chain here is sprawling, accessible, and exposed. American oil and gas companies across these waters and facilities share that exposure. Strike our assets and you get struck. We’ve already proven it. Ask the bases that are no longer viable. https://t.co/XiHAf6KzqV pic.twitter.com/0wBf40K4D3
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) September 7, 2026
The Iranian parliament speaker accompanied his warning with an image depicting oil infrastructure and carrying the message: “The lost decade of the US economy is coming”.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Hegseth Threatens Iranian Tankers
The Iranian warning followed comments from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said Iran’s tanker fleet could be targeted if Tehran continued attacking US Navy vessels.
Hegseth said Iranian tankers were “defenceless” and warned that US aircraft, ships and submarines could attack them. His comments came after a sharp increase in maritime confrontations involving Iranian and American forces.
US forces recently struck three Iranian oil tankers after ballistic missiles were launched toward American warships, according to US officials. The United States said the targeted vessels were linked to an Iranian “shadow network” used to finance the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran has rejected the US justification and warned that continued attacks on its shipping could trigger further retaliation.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Oil Markets Feel the Pressure
The growing confrontation is already affecting global energy markets.
Brent crude moved close to six-week highs on Monday as investors assessed the risk of further attacks on tankers and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that Brent was around $96.19 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude traded near $91.03.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the dispute because it is one of the world’s most important routes for oil and gas shipments. Any prolonged disruption could increase transportation costs, reduce supplies and add pressure to fuel prices.
Tanker traffic has already fallen sharply. Reuters reported that commodity shipments through the waterway had dropped to their lowest level since May as the latest confrontation intensified.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Qatar Pushes for De-Escalation
While military threats are increasing, diplomatic efforts are also continuing.
A senior Qatari delegation travelled to Tehran on Sunday as part of efforts to reduce tensions. The delegation met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with discussions focused on the wider regional crisis and diplomatic channels between the sides.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the meetings were positive and stressed that Tehran would continue using diplomatic tools to protect its interests.
“The Qatari delegation was also in Iran yesterday as part of Qatar’s ongoing efforts to help reduce tensions. They had good meetings with Dr Araghchi,” said spokesman Baghaei.
“As we have stated before, diplomacy is a dynamic and continuous process, and we will certainly make the best possible use of diplomatic tools to safeguard our national interests.”
Qatar has previously played a role in efforts to maintain communication between Washington and Tehran, making its latest diplomatic push significant as military tensions rise.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran Claims Right to Self-Defence
Tehran has also defended its military actions against American targets.
Baghaei said Iran considers its response to the US naval blockade and economic pressure legally justified under international law.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is in a position of legitimate self-defence and defence of national interests due to the continuation of the naval blockade and full-scale economic war,” he said.
He added that Tehran considers its actions legal “within the framework of the inherent right of self-defence based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter”.
The statement signals that Iran is preparing to defend any further military action as self-defence, while Washington continues to frame its strikes as responses to attacks on US forces and shipping.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran Rejects US-European IAEA Pressure
The confrontation is also spreading to the nuclear issue.
The United States, Britain, France and Germany are backing a proposed International Atomic Energy Agency resolution that could ask the nuclear watchdog’s board to refer Iran’s case to the UN Security Council. The move would mark a major diplomatic escalation in the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iran has rejected the proposed resolution and accused Western countries of using the IAEA for political pressure.
Baghaei said the three European countries were acting “irrationally” by seeking action against Tehran while Iran’s nuclear facilities had been affected by the ongoing conflict.
“The International Atomic Energy Agency has “once again become a tool for the US and European countries to abuse and exert political pressure against Iran”, Esmaeil Baghaei said.
Tehran has also warned that it would respond if the IAEA adopts a resolution against Iran.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: What Happens Next?
The latest exchange of threats leaves the region facing several risks at the same time. Further attacks on Iranian tankers could prompt Tehran to target US-linked energy interests, while any disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could put additional pressure on global oil prices.
At the same time, Qatar and other regional mediators are trying to keep diplomatic channels open. The competing military and diplomatic tracks mean the next moves by Washington and Tehran could determine whether the crisis moves toward negotiations or a wider confrontation.
For now, Ghalibaf’s warning has added a new dimension to the conflict: the possibility that US energy infrastructure and companies could become part of the retaliation cycle.
