Iran official threatens Gulf oil wells if US attacks continue

TEHRAN, Iran — TEHRAN — A member of Iran's Supreme Cyberspace Council, Ezatollah Zargami, has warned that Iran will set fire to oil wells in Gulf countries if US strikes on Iranian territory continue. Posting on social media, Zargami said: "If the attacks continue, tell the Gulf states to shut the lids on their oil wells, otherwise Iran will burn them." He added that any attack on Iran would amount to an assault on global energy and economic balances. Zargami is a prominent conservative figure in Iran who previously served as minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts and led the state radio and television organization for an extended period. His comments came as the United States carried out renewed strikes on targets inside Iran, while Tehran announced operations against military positions in Gulf states. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil and gas exports from Gulf countries and other producers, has seen tanker traffic come close to a halt during the same period. Maritime insurers have raised risk levels for vessels transiting the area, according to the reports. No further details were immediately available on the scale of the disruption or the duration of the US operations.