Iran foreign minister on Trump’s ‘Stone Age’ threat: No oil or gas being pumped ‘back then’

The Hill
by Sarah Davis
April 2, 2026
3 min read

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Iran's foreign minister responded to Trump's 'stone age' threat by noting there was no oil production in the Stone Age.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday responded to President Trump's threat to take Iran "back to the stone ages" by pointing out that modern economic damage would differ fundamentally from primitive conditions—specifically, that there was no oil or gas production in the Stone Age. The quip appeared designed to emphasize Iran's economic vulnerabilities in the modern era, particularly its dependence on energy exports. Trump had made the "stone age" threat during a recent address to the nation amid ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran. Araghchi's retort signals Iran's readiness to trade rhetorical barbs with the Trump administration even as tensions remain elevated. The exchange reflects the escalating rhetoric between Washington and Tehran over the administration's military posture toward the Islamic Republic.

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