President Trump insists Iran has been defeated militarily
WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - President Donald Trump insists Iran has been essentially defeated militarily and wants to negotiate a deal, but that they're not yet ready to do what the president says is needed.
Iran's top diplomat, on the other hand, says his country is ready to fight on, and with the war still raging, the Trump Administration is facing a growing backlash over a rapid increase in prices at the gas pump.
As the fighting with Iran now stretches into a third week, with other countries roped in, including an Iranian drone strike Monday morning at Dubai's busy airport, pausing flights, disruptions to the global energy supply are only growing.
In the U.S., oil prices hovering around $100 a barrel, pushing gas prices up more than 70 cents a gallon since the war began.
"They're quite expensive right now, especially for $4.30, 87? That's a lot," said Tanzania Scott, an Atlanta resident.
The Trump Administration is adamant it's short-term pain.
"The prices are going to come tumbling down as soon as it's over. And it's going to be over pretty quickly," President Trump explained.
"Americans will feel it for a few more weeks. But at the end, we will have removed the greatest risk to global energy supplies," said Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Trump called on other countries to help police the Strait of Hormuz to get oil flowing through that crucial route putting pressure on NATO allies, and pointed to U.S. helping with Ukraine while also insisting Iran wants to negotiate to end the war.
"It'd be interesting to see what country wouldn't help us with a very small endeavor, which is just keeping the Strait open," Trump expressed. "But I don't think they're ready to do what they have to do. But I think they will be ready at some point."
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, is rejecting that.
"No, we never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation. We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes," Araghchi shared.
Democrats arguing the war is not worth the costs as they press for a clear exit strategy.
"Raising the cost and the difficulty of Americans to be able to afford simple groceries, and lodging, and rent, and energy prices," said Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA).
China is among the countries Trump wants to help secure, and unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with The Financial Times this weekend, the president suggested he could delay his long-planned summit with china's president, set for later this month, if the Chinese don't pitch in.
