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Trump says Israel won't attack Iran gas field again after it 'violently lashed out' - Reuters

What happened

President Trump stated that Israel will not attack an Iranian gas field again after Iran 'violently lashed out' in response to a previous strike. The comment comes amid an ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran that has stretched into its third week. Trump is reportedly considering seizing Iran's critical oil depot on Kharg Island to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Why people care

The conflict has already disrupted global oil markets and raised gas prices domestically. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most vital oil transit point, and trump-iran-war-strains-gop-over-200b-funding-request.html" class="story-link" title="Faisal Islam: Iran war is having a dramatic effect on the UK economy">Iran has threatened to 'set fire' to ships attempting passage. Any escalation could have major economic and geopolitical consequences.

The takes

Hawks say

The U.S. should take decisive military action, including potentially seizing Kharg Island, to force Iran to reopen critical shipping lanes. Gulf states are quietly encouraging the U.S. and Israel to complete the conflict convincingly rather than allow it to drag on indefinitely.

Analysts say

Extended conflicts historically damage presidential approval ratings, and Trump's current policies are unlikely to meaningfully reduce gas prices. The only way to bring down energy costs is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz through diplomatic rather than military means.

Sources