The situation in Iran is the opposite of the situation in Venezuela. There the US stops tankers, in Iran – Iran stops tankers. Whoever stops the tankers wins.
This observation accurately reflects the current geopolitical tension, in which control of tankers has become the main tool of power in both regions. At the moment (early March 2026) the situation on both sides has reached its peak:
US actions off the coast of Venezuela
The US is conducting an active oil blockade in the direction of Venezuela. After US forces detained Nicolas Maduro in a military operation in Caracas in January, Washington has further tightened control over the transportation of sanctioned oil.
Tanker detentions: The US Department of Justice is seeking to seize the giant tanker Skipper (formerly Adisa) with 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan oil. It was stopped back in 2025. in December for flying a fake Guyana flag.
Oceanic harassment: The US is not limited to the Caribbean - in late February, the Pentagon announced that it had seized a third tanker (the Bertha) in the Indian Ocean that was trying to transport Venezuelan oil in violation of sanctions.
Iranian actions in the Persian Gulf
On the Iranian side, the situation is the opposite - here Iran itself is using ship blockade as a means of retaliation for US and Israeli actions. After the massive air strikes on Iranian military facilities in late February, which reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran took radical action:
Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz: Iran announced that it was "closing" the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to set fire to any ship trying to pass through it.
Attacks on tankers: March 5. Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired a missile at a US oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, causing a fire.
Market impact: The actions have caused shipping traffic in the strait to drop by about 70%, causing significant uncertainty in global energy markets.
So the phrase "whoever stops the tankers wins" in this context refers to the struggle for control of energy supply chains: the US seeks to cut off the income of authoritarian regimes by stopping their exports, and Iran responds by blocking vital global trade routes, raising prices in the US and hurting Trump's chances in the November election.
“President Trump says he is open to defending all ships carrying fuel through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran, after Tehran hit tankers passing through local waterways.
Even for the world's mightiest navy, it would be a daunting task that naval experts say is impossible to achieve using traditional escort methods, given U.S. resources in the region and their central role in the war against Iran.
"No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD," Trump said in a post Tuesday on Truth Social. The Navy would escort tankers "if necessary."
Iran's mission to the United Nations said Thursday that Tehran isn't closing the Strait, and is "committed to international law and freedom of navigation. In reality, it is the U.S. that has endangered maritime security."
The strait, only 21 miles wide at its narrowest, links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Typically, about 80 tankers pass through it daily, carrying a fifth of the world's oil. In past conflicts engulfing the region, when Iran targeted ships in the Strait, world oil prices soared and economies suffered.
Trump wants to ensure that energy flows aren't limited for long by the war. That objective bumps up against geography and demands on the military.
Local topography requires predictable routes in a small area, said James Holmes, a professor of maritime strategy at the U.S. Naval War College. Iran can "just saturate that narrow passage with fire."
Missiles, drones and sea mines are potential threats, Holmes said. Iran's navy also has 18 submarines, according to the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. They can lurk in waters beyond Iran's shores.
Several thousand ships have been stuck, and the blockage is cascading through the region's industry as storage tanks fill up with oil that can't depart, forcing producers to slash output. Shipping through the strait has nearly ground to a halt, according to ship-tracker MarineTraffic.
Even with a major force buildup in the region, the U.S. doesn't have enough warships to conduct a large-scale escort operation without the help of other countries, say current and former military officials. Nor is escorting ships an attractive option, because Iran is likely to target commercial ships and Navy escorts.
To reduce the threat of Iranian attacks, U.S. forces have targeted Iran's small navy, sinking over 20 of its ships. It also struck a base at Bandar Abbas, just north of the Strait, used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard's naval forces.
Iran called the U.S. sinking a "reckless attack" that violates international law and freedom of navigation.
Even under the most optimistic scenarios, it could take weeks or months to shrink the threat of Iranian attacks sufficiently for routine ship traffic to resume, said former U.S. military commanders. The task will become tougher if Iran mines the strait, because the Navy has sharply cut its minesweeping capabilities and likely would require help from the U.K. or other allies.
Holmes at the War College noted that most Navy destroyers in the region are needed to help protect U.S. aircraft carriers, because successfully hitting one of those "would be like striking gold for Iran." He said that leaves "just a handful of ships" for convoy duty.
European allies might join the U.S. in defending the Strait, but their navies are threadbare. Britain's once-dominant Royal Navy has shrunk to its smallest size in centuries. British officials are looking into the practicalities of deploying to escort cargoes through the strait, but officials familiar with the matter say no final decision has been made.” [1]
Oil and natural gas prices are global, augmenting the prices at the pump and in the food store in America. American voters are disappointed with Trump in cost of living problem. Voting is coming in November. It might end badly for Trump.
As of March 2026, Donald Trump is serving as the 47th President of the United States (following his inauguration on January 20, 2025), and his administration is facing significant political pressure regarding the high cost of living, with rising energy prices potentially impacting the upcoming November 2026 midterm elections
.
Recent polling and reports indicate a complex, and in some cases, negative, outlook for the administration's economic management:
Public Discontent with Rising Costs: A Dec. 2025 Politico poll found that 55% of Americans blame the Trump administration for the high cost of living, with 37% of his own 2024 voters describing the current economic situation as the worst they can remember.
Rising Energy Prices: Fuel prices have climbed to their highest levels since late 2024, driven by escalating conflicts in the Middle East and increased international demand, reversing earlier trends. Gasoline prices have risen by roughly 10% in just one week in early 2026, reaching an average of $3.27 per gallon.
Controversial Stance on Costs: President Trump has faced criticism for his response to rising costs, with some reports noting him saying "If it goes up, it goes up," and dismissing concerns over fuel price increases as minor compared to other priorities.
2026 Election Implications: The ongoing economic pressure, particularly for voters under 30 and those with lower incomes, is fueling concerns of a "Democratic wave" in the November 2026 elections, which could jeopardize the Republican majority in Congress.
Impact of Policies: Economists and reports from the Department of Energy have suggested that the expansion of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports, supported by the Trump administration, is contributing to higher domestic energy costs for households, potentially adding up to $122 per year to bills.
While the administration has touted economic performance, polling indicates that many Americans feel that the benefits of the economy are not reaching the middle class, with 66% of Americans believing the president favors the wealthy.
1. U.S. News: Defending Tankers in the Persian Gulf Poses Test for Navy, Trump. Michaels, Daniel; Cloud, David S; Colchester, Max. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 06 Mar 2026: A5.
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