Iranian drone strikes oil tanker as gas hits new high in conflict; Trump warns hesitant allies

Iran struck a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker off the Dubai coast on Tuesday, according to multiple reports, as global gas prices continue to climb.

An Iranian drone hit the vessel shortly after midnight local time, and the tanker burned as other nearby ships waited to exit the Persian Gulf, multiple outlets reported. The Dubai Media Office announced on X that response teams extinguished the fire, with no injuries or oil spillage reported.

Meanwhile, fuel prices keep rising worldwide, with America’s average national gas prices topping $4 for the first time since 2022, according to AAA data.

The U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28 alongside Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion and began to strike Iran, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials. As a result, Iran has kept the critical chokepoint known as the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed for 31 days, disrupting global supply chains and spiking energy costs.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday “the upcoming days will be decisive” in the ongoing conflict with Iran, and President Donald Trump told the New York Post that he believes the conflict will end soon. Trump noted he expects the Strait will reopen “automatically” after the U.S. wraps up its operation.

In a Truth Social post Monday, Trump said if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened, the U.S. will start “obliterating” Iran’s energy infrastructure. The U.S. then struck an Iranian city that is home to a major nuclear energy facility.

Trump also said Tuesday that “all of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” Trump continued. “Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”