Iran’s top negotiator says no one will sell oil if Tehran cannot

**Tehran's Oil Ultimatum Echoes in Lusaka: Iran Warns of Regional Oil Blockade, Zambia Braces for Economic Fallout** **LUSAKA, Zambia** – Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has issued a grave warning that could send ripples across global energy markets, directly impacting import-dependent nations like Zambia. Ghalibaf declared that if Iran is barred from selling its oil, then no other country in the region would be able to do so, threatening the security of regional infrastructure and the vital Strait of Hormuz. This "all or none" ultimatum underscores the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and highlights the precarious nature of global oil supply chains. For Zambia, a nation that relies entirely on imported refined petroleum products, such pronouncements from a major oil-producing region are not merely distant headlines; they represent a direct threat to its economic stability. The country consumes approximately 5.3 million litres of petroleum products daily, making it highly vulnerable to disruptions in global supply. Past escalations in Middle East tensions have consistently translated into higher international oil prices, increased freight and insurance costs, and ultimately, elevated pump prices for Zambian consumers. The potential for a widespread regional oil blockade, as threatened by Ghalibaf, would exacerbate an already sensitive situation. Zambia's petroleum system is structured to transmit external volatility with limited buffering capacity, meaning any significant disruption in the Strait of Hormuz – a critical artery for one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade – would swiftly impact domestic fuel availability and pricing. The Zambian government has previously acknowledged this vulnerability, with President Hakainde Hichilema expressing hope for a swift resolution to conflicts involving Iran to prevent soaring fuel costs. In response to previous oil price surges linked to Middle East instab