US shifts Iran war goal, says cheaper oil for Americans is top priority

The United States has shifted its primary objective in the war with Iran from preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon to ensuring cheaper oil for American consumers, according to Vice-President J.D. Vance. In a Fox News interview, Vance stated that getting oil flowing freely again through the Strait of Hormuz now takes precedence over the nuclear issue, which President Donald Trump had previously touted as the main reason for the conflict. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that new economic sanctions against Tehran are imminent, threatening unprecedented punishment in a bid to reopen the strait. The comments highlight the leverage Iran has gained by shutting down the strait, a critical fuel supply conduit that was open before the US and Israel initiated the war in late February. Iran has effectively closed the waterway in retaliation, providing a bargaining chip against Trump as he seeks a way out of the war and avoids large-scale attacks. The shift comes as Trump's approval rating declines, the war remains unpopular among Americans, and the November midterm elections approach.