Iran warned more than 190 countries [1] that supporting a U.S. plan to use frozen Iranian assets could trigger severe retaliation.

The warning follows a statement by President Donald Trump that frozen Iranian funds would be used to compensate ships damaged in the Strait of Hormuz [1]. Because this waterway is a critical artery for global oil shipments, any disruption to transit could destabilize international energy markets and increase shipping costs worldwide.

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the issue in response to the U.S. proposal [1]. The Iranian joint operational command said that any country or company participating in the U.S. plan could face consequences, including the denial of transit through the Strait of Hormuz [1].

Tehran views the use of these frozen assets as an illegal seizure of national funds. The threat to "choke" the waterway serves as a deterrent to prevent other nations from cooperating with the U.S. financial strategy [1].

This escalation occurs amid ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf region. The U.S. administration has said that the assets are necessary to offset damages caused by Iranian activities in the region, while Iran said that such actions violate international law [1].

As the situation develops, the international community remains watchful of the Strait of Hormuz. The threat of blocking transit would impact not only the U.S., but also various global partners who rely on the passage for trade and energy security [1].

“Iran warned more than 190 countries that supporting a U.S. plan to use frozen Iranian assets could trigger severe retaliation.”

This development signals a shift from diplomatic disputes over frozen assets to a direct threat against global maritime commerce. By leveraging its geographic control over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is attempting to create a financial and logistical risk for any third-party nation that complies with U.S. sanctions or asset seizures, effectively using the threat of an energy crisis to shield its frozen capital.