U.S. President Donald Trump told Americans on Friday that slightly higher gasoline prices were a necessary consequence of efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Speaking in Garden City, New York, Trump defended military action against Iran and said he would not apologize for the campaign at all.
The remarks highlight a political challenge for the administration as rising fuel costs conflict with Trump’s earlier pledge to reduce energy prices. Democrats are expected to emphasize the economic effects of the Iran war as campaigning intensifies ahead of the November midterm elections, making household expenses a central issue nationally.
Energy markets have been affected because the Strait of Hormuz carries about 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments under normal conditions. Concerns about prolonged disruption have contributed to higher prices, with Brent crude nearing $90 a barrel and U.S. gasoline averaging roughly $4 a gallon this week.
During the speech, Trump also said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States after Iran was defeated. It remained unclear whether the statement was intended literally, represented a new policy position, or was primarily rhetorical in nature during a public political address Friday.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded on X, rejecting the suggestion that the strategic waterway could be seized through an order, military power, social media, or an election speech. He asserted that Iran alone would determine whether the strait remained open or closed to international shipping traffic and commerce.
Trump described the conflict as a service to both the United States and the wider world, arguing that preventing a nuclear-armed Iran justified modest increases at the pump. His comments connect national security policy, energy markets, and domestic politics, while leaving unresolved questions about Washington’s intentions toward Hormuz and Iran.