The top U.S. priority now in the Iran war is no longer its nuclear programme but to bring gasoline prices down for American consumers, the Vice-President said on Thursday, with the Treasury Secretary adding that new economic punishment to wear down Tehran is imminent.
He has been among the members of the administration most sceptical of the offensive launched against Iran in late February. The comments by Vice President J.D. Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent illustrate the powerful leverage Tehran has gained by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon — consistently touted by President Donald Trump as his main reason for the war — now takes a back seat to getting oil flowing again freely through the strait, Mr. Republicans fear Mr. Trump and the war, which has caused gasoline prices to soar, will cost them their control of Congress. “That’s goal number one — keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country. And then obviously goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.
The 80-year-old President’s approval rating is plummeting, the war is unpopular among Americans and midterm elections are approaching in November.
Vance said on Fox News. “I know that oil is down today and it’s way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict,” Mr.
These remarks, however, appear to confirm the more cautious approach now favoured by the U.S. President, which involves maintaining strong economic pressure on Iran by blockading its ports and preventing it from selling oil. Only days ago Mr. “We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” Mr.
Heralding more economic punishment, Bessent threatened to subject Iran to economic isolation “like the world has never seen before”. He said new measures are expected next week. Trump had said an agreement to reopen the strait was imminent. “We are low-keying it,” Mr. Trump said Sunday. Trump said.
