By Muhammad Mamman
Iran issued a stark warning on Saturday, saying it would reduce US‑linked oil facilities to “a pile of ashes” if they were targeted amid the spiralling conflict in the Middle East, intensifying fears of wider escalation and further disruption to global energy markets. 
The threat came as the war enters its third week, with the United States launching airstrikes on Iranian military positions on Kharg Island — a crucial hub for Iran’s oil exports — while deliberately sparing its energy infrastructure for now. 
In response, Tehran’s armed forces warned that any strike on oil facilities tied to the United States or its allies would invite severe retaliation, raising the spectre of expanded attacks on regional energy assets and key supply routes. 
Global oil prices have already surged on fears of constrained supply as fighting disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20 % of the world’s crude shipments, underlining how the conflict’s economic fallout is spreading far beyond the battlefield. 
Analysts warn that any direct damage to oil infrastructure could trigger further instability in energy markets and drive prices even higher, with broader implications for national economies worldwide. 
