Tapper Grills Hassett Over 6-Month Hormuz Closure as U.S. Gasoline Holds at $4.01
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · Aug 9
Tapper Grills Hassett Over 6-Month Hormuz Closure as U.S. Gasoline Holds at $4.01
3 articles · Updated · HuffPost · Aug 9
Summary
Nearly six months after Trump entered the war with Iran, Jake Tapper pressed Kevin Hassett over his earlier claim that Strait of Hormuz traffic would return to normal “really, really soon.”
The strait remains effectively closed, undercutting Hassett’s prediction and leaving a key global oil chokepoint largely shut despite his insistence that some traffic is moving.
Iran has tied any reopening to sweeping U.S. concessions, including lifting the naval blockade and sanctions, paying war reparations, releasing frozen assets and ending attacks on its allies.
U.S. officials said last week they were nearing a deal, and Iran’s foreign minister said Oman-mediated talks were in their final stages, but negotiations remain gridlocked.
AAA data showed regular gasoline averaged $4.01 a gallon on Sunday, up from about $3.15 a year earlier, while Hassett said prices are still higher than the administration wants.