Washington Threatens Indefinite Iran Blockade as $4 Gas Becomes War Goal No. 1

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 14

$4-a-gallon U.S. gasoline has become the Trump administration’s stated top concern in the Iran war, with JD Vance saying cheap fuel now ranks ahead of stopping Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon.
An indefinite naval blockade and tougher sanctions are the chosen tools: Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces can sustain the blockade by rotating ships, and Treasury promised new isolation measures next week.
That harder line comes despite strain on U.S. forces — the USS George Washington is heading to relieve the Abraham Lincoln after about 250 days at sea — and despite Trump’s recent talk of “low-keying” the conflict.
Hormuz remains largely choked, with traffic far below the usual 130-140 vessels a day; the UAE said two ADNOC-linked tankers were hit by Iranian drones on Thursday, suffering minor damage.
Brent crude sits above $87 a barrel, about 45% above January levels, and the conflict has pushed U.S. gas above $4 while disrupting not only oil and gas flows but also products such as fertilizer.