Yaroslav Trofimov

tell the Iranian people that, you know, we are maintaining the country at peace.

So directly intervening in the Strait of Hormuz would have brought war into Iranian shores, something that they tried at all costs to avoid.

I see, but now that war has arrived on its shores, regardless.

Well, exactly.

Now that the U.S.

and Israel launched this war in Iran, they have nothing to lose.

The regime is in a survival mode, and they're using, you know, every point of leverage that they can possibly get to survive.

The impact has been colossal.

The price of oil at some point almost doubled.

There is also a disparity between oil futures and the price of physical oil because you have actual shortages in some countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that are

cutting short the work week and imposing rationing.

Obviously, there is a lot less impact in the U.S.

because the U.S.

is the world's largest producer and now exporter of oil.

But again, if prices rise globally, they also rise in the U.S.

and people are seeing this at the pump.

And, you know, if you listen to the administration, they were arguing that the money will not necessarily end up in Iranian hands, but that's still a drop in an ocean that doesn't really do much to offset

the colossal shortage that is being caused by this blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

If the U.S.

just declares victory and cuts and runs, well, you know, that would leave Iran empowered.