【Iran Crisis】Dozens of oil tankers approach the strait attempting to breach; Iran issues warnings. Trump press conference: Iran war will end soon but refuses to commit to a timeline (updating continuously)

Oil prices plummeted by 10%. Brent crude fell 9% to $90.3, and WTI dropped 8% to $87. Reports indicate large-scale strikes erupted in Tehran and Karaj, with Isfahan and Tabriz also reporting protests. Tehran experienced widespread power outages.

After Trump’s speech, according to shipping sources, dozens of oil tankers are approaching the Strait of Hormuz, seemingly attempting to pass through. As of 7:38 a.m., they are very close to the strait, and the situation is tense.

Trump stated that the U.S. military has deployed strong forces and mine-clearing equipment in the Strait of Hormuz, and will provide “political risk insurance” and escort for commercial ships if necessary. He emphasized that Iran will not be allowed to cut off global oil supplies.

According to semi-official Iranian media, Fars News Agency, a senior Iranian military official warned, “Until further notice, we will not allow even a single liter of oil to be exported to hostile parties and their allies.”

🔴 One senior Iranian military official told Al Mayadeen: “Until further notice, we will not allow even a liter of oil to be exported in the region to hostile parties and their allies.”

— Fars News Agency (@FarsNews_Agency) March 9, 2026

Trump held a press conference, refusing to promise an end to the war “within days or this week,” but said it would be “very soon.” He highlighted that Iran’s military assets—including navy, air force, radar, and leadership—have been almost entirely destroyed, so the operation will not take long. He claimed that current military progress is unprecedented, with progress that would have taken a month now completed ahead of schedule.

He announced that over 51 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk, their drone manufacturing facilities destroyed, and missile capabilities reduced to below 10%. Over 5,000 targets have been struck, including major strategic sites, with some key targets preserved for future use. Destroying these would take years to rebuild, affecting power generation and other critical infrastructure. He said that unless absolutely necessary, they will not strike these targets, as doing so would cause catastrophic consequences. The war’s most dangerous phase is over within three days.

He called for Iran to nominate a new leader willing to pursue peace. He expressed disappointment that Iran’s Supreme Leader is the son of Khamenei.

He emphasized that securing the Strait of Hormuz is mainly to stabilize the global economy, explicitly stating that this action helps countries like China that rely on the strait. “I want to keep it open. I want to keep it good. You know, it doesn’t affect us as much as it does China. We’re actually helping China and other countries because they get a lot of energy from the strait. But we have good relations with China. I’m proud to do this.”

Summary of the press conference:

"Over the past weekend, the U.S. military and Israeli Defense Forces continued to execute Operation Epic Fury successfully. Over nine days, they launched the most powerful and complex military strikes and tactical exercises ever seen. If you combine these actions with other achievements—such as Operation Midnight Hammer, which eliminated Iran’s nuclear threat entirely, and successes in Venezuela and elsewhere—you will see a historic moment of victory.

"While advancing these operations, we have also made significant progress in achieving military objectives. Some might say these goals are already quite complete. We have thoroughly and completely eliminated all armed forces within Iran. Most of their navy has been sunk. I just received reports of 51 ships—more than I knew they had. They didn’t last long against our forces.

"We continue to target Iran’s drone and missile capabilities. Their drone numbers have sharply decreased. Their drone manufacturing facilities are under full attack from today. We have seized all their drone production sites and are destroying them one by one. Their missile capabilities have dropped to about 10% or less. We have also precisely targeted their missile manufacturing and transportation facilities. So far, over 5,000 targets have been struck, including major strategic sites. Some of the most important targets are being held back for future use. If we hit those, they would need years to rebuild, affecting power plants and other critical infrastructure. We prefer not to do that unless absolutely necessary, as it would be devastating. We are monitoring the situation and could destroy all of them in a day if we choose.

"All these action