Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary on Tuesday threatened President Trump after the president warned Iran against stopping oil from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

“The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats,” Secretary Ali Larijani wrote on social platform X in a post translated by The Associated Press. “Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”

Larijani was reacting to Trump’s Monday comments on Truth Social.

“If Iran does anything that tops 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,” the president wrote.

“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!” he continued. “This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait. Hopefully, it is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated.”

Larijani’s pressure comes after Iran fired a new salvo of attacks on Israel, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain on Tuesday, the AP reported. In Bahrain, an attack on a residential building killed a 29-year-old woman and injured eight others.

Gas prices have surged in the aftermath of the U.S.-Israeli joint military operation in Iran that began on Feb. 28. The conflict led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is located between Oman and Iran and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Two ships have passed through the strait in the last 24 hours, with the average typically being around 60 ships, according to hormuzstraitmonitor.com. On Tuesday, 157 ships are stranded, including 98 oil tankers and 34 bulk carriers.

The per-barrel price of West Intermediate crude oil, the benchmark for North American markets, is just more than $90 as of Tuesday morning. The national average for gas in the U.S. reached $3.54, according to AAA.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that it refuses to “allow the export of even a single liter of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice.

Trump has argued that the spike in oil prices is a “very small price to pay” for eliminating Iran’s alleged nuclear threat. But this has lawmakers worried that as the spring and summer seasons commence and more Americans travel, the price of gas will impact people’s wallets amid concerns over affordability.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) criticized the administration for appearing to not consider energy prices before the initial attack last month.

“For heaven’s sakes, are you telling me you didn’t game this one out?” she told Punchbowl News last week. “I’m starting to think they didn’t game this one out.”

The Associated Press contributed.

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