Iran has issued a huge warning to the US with a chilling threat to cripple oil supplies to the country. Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref warned Americans they “should start thinking about stockpiling gasoline and fuel”, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to escalate.

He said: “The Americans should start thinking about stockpiling gasoline and fuel. Dark months await the American economy.” Aref also warned that recent US attacks had fundamentally changed Tehran’s approach to its security. Writing on X, he said: “America’s new crimes against the Iranian nation have changed our security equations and defence doctrine.” He added: “From now on, our response will be ‘asymmetrical,’ ‘multi-layered,’ and ‘depriving the aggressor of security.’” The stark warning comes amid renewed fighting between the US and Iran and growing concerns over oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington could attack Iran “at any time”, although he did not expect the renewed fighting to continue for “too long”.

He has also claimed America has “almost total control” of the Strait of Hormuz.

The US does not rely on Iranian oil for its supplies, but disruption to the Strait can still have major consequences for American motorists and the wider economy.

US Energy Information Administration figures show America imported an average of 490,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the Middle East Gulf in 2025.

America’s reliance on Gulf oil has fallen significantly as its domestic production has increased, but any major disruption in the Strait of Hormuz can still send global oil prices higher because of the huge volume of supplies passing through the waterway.

Fresh military strikes in recent days have already sent prices surging, with Brent crude climbing above $96 a barrel on Thursday and US West Texas Intermediate approaching $92, their highest levels in six weeks.

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