Graham: Iran oil blockade ‘could become global soon’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Senate ally to President Trump, said the U.S. blockade of Iran’s oil shipments “will be growing” and “could become global soon,” sending a blunt warning to countries that have helped Iran sell its oil supplies.

“I not only expect this blockade to stay in place until Iran shows a commitment to change their ways, I expect the blockade will be growing and that it could become global soon,” Graham posted on the social media platform X.

Graham made his prediction after what he described as “a very good call” with Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and he warned countries that have helped Iran bypass international sanctions, such as China, Russia and India, through a shadow shipping fleet.

“To those assisting or thinking about assisting the Iranian regime in distributing its oil, which provides resources for terrorism, you do so at your own peril,” Graham warned.  

Lloyd’s List, a maritime intelligence and data firm, reported that 26 Iranian ships bypassed the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports to export Iranian cargo around the world, a claim denied by the Pentagon.

The report caught the attention of Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) who offered what he said was a sarcastic social media response to the report: “Awesome.”

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell called the report of ships evading the U.S. blockade “false” and criticized Murphy’s comment as “shameful.”

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