Thank you for flying the friendly skies, and please return your seat backs to their full upright and locked position. Mining the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran is now attempting to do, is the ultimate trump card. Unfortunately, the fellows running Iran are religious zealots who believe — deeply, sincerely and somewhat alarmingly — in something larger than quarterly economic indicators. But they know exactly what Trump has to lose: His popularity and political legacy are now tied to the price of oil. AdvertisementReferring to the U.S. military, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich told Larry Kudlow on Fox Business: “They have to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 13, 2026 15:22 UTC