By Ira – JBizNews Desk

WASHINGTON – President Trump said Saturday that the United States could launch a military strike against Iran as soon as Sunday, or instead reach what he called a “big, beautiful” deal with Tehran, leaving Americans facing the possibility that a decision made in Washington this weekend shows up within days in the price of gasoline.

“We’re thinking about doing it, and maybe tomorrow,” Trump told reporters when asked how close he was to ordering an attack. He added that Iran could still avoid further military action by agreeing to a deal, saying “they want to make a deal, but the problem is, will they hold the deal?”

The comments are the latest escalation in a conflict that has been running since February, when the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran. A ceasefire and an interim agreement brokered by Pakistan and Qatar in June stopped the heaviest fighting, but the underlying dispute, over Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz, remains unresolved.

Iran pushed back hard on Saturday. The country’s armed forces chief of staff, Ali Abdollahi, said U.S. military ships would never be allowed into the Persian Gulf “under any circumstances and at any time.” A spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard called American threats “largely for media consumption” and said Iran’s response to any strike would be “several times greater.”

Oil markets are already reacting. Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, rose 3.5% on Friday to more than $117 a barrel, its highest level since March. Oil has climbed from under $97 at the start of October, a jump of more than 20% in three weeks, as the standoff disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carried about 20% of the world’s oil supply before the war.

The shipping danger is real, not theoretical. Iran claimed Thursday that it struck four commercial vessels in Gulf waters and said three others hit sea mines. Earlier this month, a tanker called the Gem No. 2 was hit by a projectile off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, causing an oil spill that closed beaches and left residents of Dubai reporting the smell of gasoline in the air.

What It Means at the Gas Pump

For everyday drivers, this is where a faraway conflict becomes personal. The national average price of regular gasoline is $4.27 a gallon. That figure actually fell 6 cents over the past week, but the drop came from refineries switching to a cheaper winter blend of fuel, not from any relief in the underlying cost of oil.

Here is the uncomfortable math: October is on track to be the most expensive October ever recorded for gas prices, following records already set in August and September. High crude prices are the reason the seasonal discount at the pump has been so small. And if a U.S. strike pushes oil even higher, or closes the Strait of Hormuz completely, analysts say drivers should expect prices to climb again, not fall. Gas stations typically raise prices within days of a jump in crude costs.

The timing carries political weight. The midterm elections are less than two weeks away, on November 3, and Trump had previously said there would be no strikes before then. His ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, told a podcast on Friday that a strike this weekend was “absolutely” possible.

What to Watch

Trump framed the choice simply: “I may have to finish it off, or maybe they’ll make a deal. But I’m not sure. Either way, we win.”

Iran, for its part, says it remains open to talks under the Pakistan-brokered framework, provided the U.S. lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, admitted Saturday that many Iranians are struggling to afford food under wartime conditions, and he is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week.

European governments are urging restraint. France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, warned Friday that further escalation “would leave no winners” and would have “very serious consequences” for energy prices worldwide.

The Bottom Line

A decision could come as early as Sunday. If a strike happens, expect oil and gas prices to move higher fast. If a deal is reached instead, prices could finally ease. For households, the practical advice is simple: if your tank is near empty, filling it this weekend may be cheaper than waiting to see what Sunday brings.

JBizNews Desk | Washington

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