Iran has issued a direct assassination threat to President Donald Trump after tensions between Washington and Tehran intensified during the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Ali Ardashir Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, delivered the warning following a Truth Social post from Trump in which the US president said Iran would be “hit twenty times harder” if it attempted to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

The threat came on the 10th day of fighting in the region, after joint US and Israeli strikes targeted key locations in Iran and killed the country’s then leader. Iran has since launched attacks across the region as the conflict continues to escalate.

Iran responds with direct warning
Larijani issued a statement addressed to Trump, warning that Iran would not be intimidated by the president’s comments.

Per The Mirror, he said, “The Ashura nation of Iran is not afraid of your empty threats. Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Be careful not to be eliminated!”

The message was signed: “Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Tehran, March 19, 1404 – 10 days after the martyrdom of His Holiness Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.”

Trump’s warning about the Strait of Hormuz
Trump’s initial comments focused on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes for oil.

About 20% of the world’s oil passes through the strait, and global oil prices jumped above $100 per barrel on Monday following the escalating rhetoric.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.”

Oil prices surge as conflict continues
The rising tensions have already had a major impact on global markets. Oil prices surged to almost $119 a barrel before easing back to around $90, according to AP News.

Trump previously claimed the war would come to an end “very soon,” but the fighting has continued as Iran launches attacks across the region in response to the strikes carried out by US and Israeli forces.

With the conflict still raging, the exchange of threats between Washington and Tehran has raised further concerns about the stability of the region and the future of global energy supplies.