US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to hit Iran '20 times harder' if Tehran 'does anything that stops the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz' and added that 'death, fire and fury will reign over them,' though he hopes it won't come to that. The warnings came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it attacked a tanker in the strait over the weekend, saying the passage is closed to traffic due to the escalation of the conflict. The US president also said he is considering taking full control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20-25% of all global oil and gas maritime trade passes. The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that it is studying 'various options' for future naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz, though it did not specify when these operations would begin in this strategic passage for oil and gas transport. The Pentagon is preparing for the possibility of being tasked with protecting the passage of merchant ships through the strait. Oil prices are hovering around $90 a barrel today, while the price of gasoline in the US, a key indicator for Trump in this election year, has risen by an average of 10% and now stands at around $3.5 per gallon (3.85 liters).
