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Donald Trump has urged Americans to accept higher petrol prices, saying the added cost is worth preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons as tensions over the Hormuz persist.
US President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump told Americans that they may have to bear higher petrol costs as the conflict with Iran continues, arguing that the price would be justified if it prevents Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Addressing a rally in Garden City, New York, on Friday, Trump said Americans could end up paying “a tiny little bit more” at petrol stations. He described Iran as a “very evil country” and said stopping it from obtaining nuclear weapons would make the additional expense worthwhile.
Trump also made a fresh claim over the Strait of Hormuz, saying the US would take control of the strategic waterway after defeating Iran. He said he would be “declaring” Hormuz a US territory.
The remarks came as the standoff over the Strait showed no signs of easing. Efforts towards a ceasefire have stalled, while Tehran has maintained that it has not restarted negotiations with Washington. Tanker movement through the vital oil shipping route has also remained suspended.
Iran responded on Saturday, telling Washington to accept what it described as the “reality of defeat”. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would decide when the Strait would be opened or closed and accused the US of continuing to indulge in “fantasies”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said his country had not yet agreed to resume talks with the US. In an interview with Shahrara News published on Saturday, he said Washington would first have to meet Iran’s conditions concerning the Strait before shipping could return to normal.
The confrontation is already being felt in energy markets. The average US petrol price stood at $4.08 a gallon on Friday, marking a 29% rise from a year earlier, according to the American Automobile Association, Reuters reported.
Oil prices also moved higher, with crude futures gaining about $1 a barrel on Friday. Brent crude was on course for a weekly rise of 6%, while West Texas Intermediate was set to gain 5.4%.
Washington has also signalled that more economic pressure could be placed on Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Newsmax that the US would announce additional measures against Iran next week.
Iran, meanwhile, is dealing with its own economic fallout. President Masoud Pezeshkian said on state television that rising inflation was linked to what he called a US blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions targeting the country’s oil exports
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18US President Donald Trump has asked Americans to accept higher petrol prices as the conflict with Iran continues, stating that the economic cost is necessary to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. The average US petrol price was about $4.08 per gallon on Friday, a 29% increase from a year earlier. Oil prices also rose, with crude futures gaining about $1 a barrel on Friday.
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Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More
August 15, 2026, 11:20 PM IST
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