Trump says Iran port blockade could last months, pushing Brent to a 4-year high. Diplomacy with Tehran stalls as the UN warns of deep humanitarian and economic fallout.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said the pressure on Iran could remain in place for months, warning that oil prices are already reacting.
He made the comments as diplomacy between Washington and Tehran remains at a standstill, after repeated starts and stops.. Speaking while the U.S.. weighs its next steps, Trump argued that keeping Iranian ports blocked could be more effective than bombing, pointing to the economic pressure rather than military force.
At the same time, the energy market responded quickly.. Brent oil futures rose sharply again, hitting their highest level in more than four years, underscoring how quickly war risk in the Middle East can flow into global prices.. The fear is not abstract: Iran has sought to leverage its position near the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway where a significant share of the world’s oil typically passes.
Trump told business leaders and officials that his approach is aimed at “alleviating global oil markets” while continuing the blockade if necessary.. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump discussed steps designed to reduce impacts on American consumers, even as he acknowledged the political strain of a war that has raised costs at the pump.
The U.S.. political pressure to end the conflict is growing, but the administration has signaled it is not ready to shift course.. The Pentagon has told lawmakers that the war’s financial cost to U.S.. taxpayers has already reached tens of billions of dollars.. At the same time, senior officials reportedly aborted travel plans to Pakistan aimed at negotiating with Iran, reflecting how uncertain and fragile the diplomatic pathway has become.
Diplomatic uncertainty is also visible in Tehran’s stance.. Iranian officials have cast doubt on Washington’s intentions and argue that the war is not truly over.. An Iranian army spokesman said Tehran does not consider the situation settled, adding that it holds “many cards” not yet used—an indication that both sides may be preparing for a longer, more dangerous phase.
The White House also faces a challenge: deciding who can actually speak for Iran.. After leadership losses linked to Israeli strikes, U.S.. officials have said they do not know whether hardline factions or diplomats control the message coming back from Tehran.. That lack of clarity complicates negotiations, particularly when each side interprets the other’s moves through its own strategic lens.
Behind the rhetoric, the humanitarian and economic costs are piling up.. The UN Development Programme has warned that the war could push tens of millions of people into poverty across a wide range of countries, describing it as a kind of reversal in development.. Fertilizer prices have also surged, threatening food security in places far from the battlefield, while Iran’s currency has weakened to historic lows—another sign that pressure is translating into daily economic strain.
In Iran, residents described a familiar cycle: negotiations happen, sanctions tighten, and everyday conditions worsen. The despair is not only about money, but about trust—about whether talks ever lead to real relief rather than a new round of restrictions.
Meanwhile, the war’s Lebanese front continues to threaten broader escalation.. Despite an extended ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, fighting has persisted, including strikes that injured Lebanese troops and killed a soldier in the south.. Lebanese officials have called for negotiations, while insisting that the ceasefire must be fully implemented first—placing additional pressure on Washington’s timetable for direct talks.
Misryoum’s read of the moment is that the energy spike is not simply a market reaction, but a signal of how both sides may be locked into a grinding strategy.. If the blockade lasts months, the effect will likely spread beyond fuel prices: higher transport costs, tighter budgets, and increased political pressure in consumer countries can all influence decision-making.. At the same time, any effort to restart diplomacy will depend on whether the parties can align on who exactly represents Iran’s decision-making—because without that, each phone call or proposal risks becoming another false start.