{"id":430283,"date":"2026-03-09T21:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=430283"},"modified":"2026-03-10T02:32:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T01:32:52","slug":"iran-nearly-crippled-global-energy-but-trump-found-a-new-weapon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=430283","title":{"rendered":"Iran Nearly Crippled Global Energy, But Trump Found A New Weapon"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From THE DAILY CALLER<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Daily<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Benjamin Roberts<\/strong><\/a>
Associate Editor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As energy markets reel from the U.S.\u2019 war with Iran, the Trump administration is racing against time to insulate Americans from any more pain at the pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The war began early Saturday when U.S. and Israeli forces launched a massive wave of air strikes that killed<\/a> Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini and struck over 1,000<\/a> military installations. Iran retaliated with both conventional missile attacks and drone strikes, taking major energy facilities offline<\/a> in the Arab Gulf. Brent crude, the oil blend used as an international benchmark for pricing, has risen<\/a> to over $80\/barrel, raising U.S. gas prices by roughly 20 cents\/gallon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe price for crude oil is set on a global commodity trading market that is reflected mainly in the Brent crude price. All contracts for sale of crude globally work back from that index price,\u201d industry veteran David Blackmon told the Daily Caller News Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every $10 increase in Brent crude translates to a roughly 24-cent spike in U.S. gas prices, according to S&P Global<\/a>. If Brent hits $100\/barrel, consumers could fork over<\/a> nearly $4\/gallon at the gas station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The White House did not respond to the DCNF\u2019s request for comment. (RELATED: How Rubio Prepared Congress For US Campaign Against Iran)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran Lashes Out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Iranian military took Saudi Aramco<\/a> oil refineries and Qatar\u2019s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility offline with drone attacks after Operation Epic Fury, multiple<\/a> outlets<\/a> reported<\/a>.  In an attempt to disrupt shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran also conducted drone attacks on oil tankers. Global markets and American prices reacted instantly. (RELATED: Trump Says US Decapitated Iran Leadership As They Ate Breakfast)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iranian strikes punished the U.S.\u2019s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) allies, crippling energy production and disrupting exports. The GCC is responsible for nearly 30% of global oil exports<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saudi Arabia\u2019s Ras Tanura Refinery partially suspended<\/a> its operations after an Iranian drone attack on Monday, and the Gulf\u2019s premier LNG producer QatarEnergy<\/a> was also <\/strong>shut down. The United Arab Emirate\u2019s Fujairah Oil Industry Zone caught fire<\/a> after Iranian strikes on Tuesday, delaying tanker refueling<\/a> and introducing further uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz fell to almost zero after a number of Iranian attacks on civilian vessels, according to Joint Maritime Information Center transit advisories<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial effects on the U.S. energy market from Iranian strikes and subsequent GCC refinery closures were minimal, but continue to worsen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Operation Epic Fury began, U.S. gas prices have risen from $2.98 to $3.19\/gallon, according<\/a> to AAA. Though a swell for President Trump\u2019s second term, it remains substantially lower than Biden-era highs of over $5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That prices have only risen modestly so far is partially attributable to the U.S.\u2019 reduced reliance on foreign oil. U.S.\u2019 domestic crude production rose by 50%, net imports declined by 65%, and the GCC\u2019s share of U.S. imports even fell to less than 8% since 2014, the American Petroleum Institute<\/a> found. But global markets still determine American pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Strait-Jacket Of Hormuz<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prices could climb higher if the Strait of Hormuz isn\u2019t freely navigable, and maritime insurers\u2019 risk-aversion is keeping ships at port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight now, the stoppage in tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz is strictly an insurance issue. Insurers are demanding higher war risk premiums from the shipping companies, and those will be negotiated in the coming days,\u201d Blackmon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approximately 25%<\/a> of the \u201cglobal seaborne oil trade\u201d transits through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If negotiations between war risk insurers and shipping companies are resolved within \u201c7-10 days, then the rise in gas prices at the pump will likely remain modest,\u201d according to Blackmon. The industry veteran sees continued insurance withdrawal and Iranian destruction of  \u201csignificant critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar\u201d as \u201ca combination that would send oil prices \u2013 and thus, gasoline prices \u2013 soaring.\u201d (RELATED: Iran War Reportedly Leaves Oil Tankers Stranded Amid Global Shipping Crisis)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, President Trump announced<\/a> on Truth Social that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) would provide political risk insurance and even U.S. Navy escorts for merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DFC offer \u201cwill not resolve the insurance issue for the shippers on a permanent basis \u2013 they will still need to work out long-term coverage for their cargoes with major insurance carriers like Lloyd\u2019s of London,\u201d according to Blackmon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, as a stop-gap measure, the \u201ccombination of U.S. DFC coverage and even escort by U.S. Naval vessels through the Strait could provide enough comfort to shippers to get tanker traffic moving through the Strait again,\u201d Blackmon continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the Strait \u201cis effectively closed short term, meaning days or weeks, then I would expect a minimal disruption to the price of oil,\u201d Republican Alabama Senate Candidate and U.S. Naval Reserve Officer Morgan Murphy told the Daily Caller News Foundation. \u201cShould it be closed on a protracted basis, weeks or months, then oil prices would potentially climb to levels unseen in years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activity in the Strait is still down<\/a> 90% since Iran began its campaign to close the shipping route. Murphy noted that the U.S. Navy \u201chas a long and glorious history of keeping sea lanes open.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter\u2019s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As energy markets reel from the U.S.\u2019 war with Iran, the Trump administration is racing against time to insulate Americans from any more pain at the pump.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":430287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691822760,691839810,691821012,691841779,691831504,691841788],"class_list":["post-430283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crude-oil","tag-iran","tag-liquefied-natural-gas-lng","tag-strait-of-hormuz","tag-trump-administration","tag-u-s-gas-prices","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Iran-Nearly-Crippled-Global-Energy-But-Trump-Found-A-New-Weapon.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1NW3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":438539,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=438539","url_meta":{"origin":430283,"position":0},"title":"Trump\u2019s Hormuz Ultimatum to Iran: Stop the Tolls or Else \u2013 Japan Releases More Oil","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/10\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Trump posted on Truth Social: \u201cThere are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait \u2014 They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!\u201d He also accused Iran of doing a \u201cvery poor job, dishonorable some would say,\u201d of allowing oil\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Gulf energy production\"","block_context":{"text":"Gulf energy production","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=gulf-energy-production"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Trumps-Hormuz-Ultimatum-to-Iran-Stop-the-Tolls-or-Else-%E2%80%93-Japan-Releases-More-Oil.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Trumps-Hormuz-Ultimatum-to-Iran-Stop-the-Tolls-or-Else-%E2%80%93-Japan-Releases-More-Oil.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Trumps-Hormuz-Ultimatum-to-Iran-Stop-the-Tolls-or-Else-%E2%80%93-Japan-Releases-More-Oil.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Trumps-Hormuz-Ultimatum-to-Iran-Stop-the-Tolls-or-Else-%E2%80%93-Japan-Releases-More-Oil.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":430468,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=430468","url_meta":{"origin":430283,"position":1},"title":"University of Arizona speech & don\u2019t tap into depleted Strategic Petroleum Reserve","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/11\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In Episode 545 of District of Conservation, Gabriella recaps her trip to Arizona and discusses the impact of U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and domestic energy prices. Tune in to learn more!","rel":"","context":"In \"Arizona\"","block_context":{"text":"Arizona","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=arizona"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0IMG_7263-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0IMG_7263-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0IMG_7263-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0IMG_7263-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0IMG_7263-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":430822,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=430822","url_meta":{"origin":430283,"position":2},"title":"U.S. Gas and Renewables Help Buffer Power Consumers From War Costs","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/13\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"As President Donald Trump and Israel\u2019s Benjamin Netanyahu continue to prosecute a war against Iran, the energy narrative in many business outlets is that top U.S. gas exporters, already shipping near capacity, are unable to fill the temporary loss of 20% of global liquefied natural gas volumes triggered by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-dioxide-co%e2%82%82"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQMiVmpXQUCLhHipJT8ZetihC6EaxOIr2CcNEbl0TJOdOOUZvmvXd0s7F6zXqlwpMX2d76rLwfpLalafvWV72E1fCqo1zAvp_tdr6G1AS_A62FuoEh7ixhQoLpEd7PHt.jpeg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQMiVmpXQUCLhHipJT8ZetihC6EaxOIr2CcNEbl0TJOdOOUZvmvXd0s7F6zXqlwpMX2d76rLwfpLalafvWV72E1fCqo1zAvp_tdr6G1AS_A62FuoEh7ixhQoLpEd7PHt.jpeg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQMiVmpXQUCLhHipJT8ZetihC6EaxOIr2CcNEbl0TJOdOOUZvmvXd0s7F6zXqlwpMX2d76rLwfpLalafvWV72E1fCqo1zAvp_tdr6G1AS_A62FuoEh7ixhQoLpEd7PHt.jpeg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQMiVmpXQUCLhHipJT8ZetihC6EaxOIr2CcNEbl0TJOdOOUZvmvXd0s7F6zXqlwpMX2d76rLwfpLalafvWV72E1fCqo1zAvp_tdr6G1AS_A62FuoEh7ixhQoLpEd7PHt.jpeg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQMiVmpXQUCLhHipJT8ZetihC6EaxOIr2CcNEbl0TJOdOOUZvmvXd0s7F6zXqlwpMX2d76rLwfpLalafvWV72E1fCqo1zAvp_tdr6G1AS_A62FuoEh7ixhQoLpEd7PHt.jpeg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":441717,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=441717","url_meta":{"origin":430283,"position":3},"title":"Blame anti-fossil fuel crusade, not war for gas prices","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/28\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Actions by the United States, directed at Iran, have resulted in the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Mideast. 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This\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"China\"","block_context":{"text":"China","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=china"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Trump-Temporarily-Eases-Russian-Oil-Sanctions-to-Counter-Iran-War-Price-Surge.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Trump-Temporarily-Eases-Russian-Oil-Sanctions-to-Counter-Iran-War-Price-Surge.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Trump-Temporarily-Eases-Russian-Oil-Sanctions-to-Counter-Iran-War-Price-Surge.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Trump-Temporarily-Eases-Russian-Oil-Sanctions-to-Counter-Iran-War-Price-Surge.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=430283"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":430288,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430283\/revisions\/430288"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/430287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=430283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=430283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=430283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}