Transportation Secretary Questions Gas Prices in Interview
During a Sunday chat on “This Week,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sidestepped queries related to the surge in gas prices. Currently, the average cost of gasoline sits at $4.451, having risen sharply since Operation Epic Fury commenced on February 28th. Host Martha Raddatz pressed Duffy about earlier assurances from Trump administration officials, claiming prices wouldn’t stay high over the long haul.
“Well, I’m at DOT, not an energy expert,” Duffy stated. “But based on the briefings I’ve had, I believe that once the strait is open, prices should drop quickly. Of course, there will be some delay in getting back to where we were pre-conflict, but relief is likely once the strait is operational again.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump conveyed a sense of doubt regarding the diplomatic discussions with Tehran, mentioning that Iran’s demands are unreasonable. Raddatz followed up by asking Duffy about the state of negotiations.
“Look, the president has had notable success both in construction and as a leader. He prefers not to discuss negotiations publicly and doesn’t usually disclose his desires or take the lead in that way,” Duffy responded. “While we’ve allowed things to progress as they have, the president is focused on achieving a deal with Iran that would benefit the global community and the U.S. Still, it’s not realistic to think Iran should possess nuclear weapons or keep the Strait shut.”
On April 12, Trump instituted a blockade against Iran after the nation began charging tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Just days before that, Iran had declared that it would permit 12 vessels daily to transit, imposing tolls set at $1 per barrel payable in yuan or cryptocurrency. The Iranian government also stated it had placed mines in the Strait.
Officials from the Trump administration argue that Iran represents a threat to the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the U.S. conducted a military action due to concerns that Iran’s response to an Israeli attack could lead to American military casualties.
Joe Kent, formerly the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, stepped down in March, attributing the war’s initiation to pressures from Israel and its influential lobbying in the U.S.
A report from the New York Times suggested that during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House on February 11, President Trump felt pressured to launch an attack against Iran, despite some skepticism voiced by Vice President J.D. Vance and other officials.
