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US Navy Blocks Iranian Oil, Mines Threaten $4 Gas

4/23/2026

Center

Trump Warns Mines

President Donald Trump warned the Navy would “shoot and kill any boat” laying mines and said sweeping was already underway.
Iran placed 20 mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and officials say clearing them may require six months.
Gasoline climbed to $3.99 per gallon on April 22 and $4.03 on April 23, above pre-war levels.
The Navy’s blockade turned back 31 vessels, mainly tankers, costing Iran $500 million daily oil revenue.

Left

Pentagon Warns

Gasoline jumped to $4.02 per gallon from $2.98 as Pentagon officials warned a six-month mine-clearance could extend the price surge.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told Congress the mine-clearing effort will take six months and won’t begin until the war ends.
Lawmakers from parties expressed frustration, warning the timeline could keep fuel prices high after peace.
Columbia University researcher Richard Nephew warned a six-month clearance could destabilize oil markets, harming insurers.

History

Historical Context

The Iran-Iraq War, which began in September 1980, escalated naval confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global oil transport. In 1987, the U.S. initiated Operation Earnest Will to protect Kuwaiti tankers from Iranian attacks, costing around $1 billion. Today, renewed tensions echo this history, as Iran's threats to disrupt shipping routes risk significant impacts on global oil prices, reminiscent of the 1980s crises.

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Trump Warns Mines

President Donald Trump warned the Navy would “shoot and kill any boat” laying mines and said sweeping was already underway.
Iran placed 20 mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and officials say clearing them may require six months.
Gasoline climbed to $3.99 per gallon on April 22 and $4.03 on April 23, above pre-war levels.
The Navy’s blockade turned back 31 vessels, mainly tankers, costing Iran $500 million daily oil revenue.

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