From the White House \u2014 despite regular threatening posts <\/a>from the president \u2014 a wider array of signals suggests the administration is preparing for a lengthy staring contest<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is telling aides<\/a> to prepare for an extended US naval blockade of the strait after the president also fit in a meeting with oil executives on Tuesday<\/a> during the visit from King Charles.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0What an extended war with Iran could mean for gas prices<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday morning further laid out<\/a> what the administration is terming a \u201cmaximum pressure campaign,\u201d claiming that Iran is facing approximately $170 million per day in lost revenue and will be forced to capitulate.<\/p>\n But the pressure campaign hasn\u2019t moved the Iranians from their position that nuclear talks should be shelved until after the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s foreign minister traveled to Moscow this week to meet with Vladimir Putin<\/a> and tout \u201cthe depth and strength of our strategic partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0How oil price shocks ripple through your wallet, from gas to groceries<\/a><\/p>\n One positive strait development <\/p>\n This week, a Japanese vessel reportedly carrying 2 million barrels of\u00a0oil, which had been stuck behind the Strait of Hormuz since February, was able to transit.<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi\u00a0confirmed the passage<\/a>\u00a0and called it \u201ca positive development\u201d while noting that other Japanese vessels remain stuck in the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n Kpler energy analyst Yui Torikata called the ship\u2019s crossing \u201ca very symbolic event,\u201d but also noted that the normalization of traffic through the strait remains far off.<\/p>\n Overall, oil futures, including those for Brent crude (BZ=F<\/a>) and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude (CL=F<\/a>), remained above $100 per barrel.<\/p>\n Prices at the pump took another leg up this week, with gas now averaging above $4.20 per gallon, according to AAA<\/a>, the highest in 2026.<\/p>\n Other analysts said that additional effects could begin to be felt in the weeks ahead.<\/p>\n Henrietta Treyz of Veda Partners noted that \u201cfood price spikes hit 60-90 days after crude prices spike historically.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0It’s not just gas prices. How the Iran war is coming for your grocery bill.<\/a><\/p>\n Increased congressional scrutiny \u2014 but little expectation of action <\/p>\n Under a War Powers Resolution passed in 1973, Congress can assume a larger role after 60 days from the beginning of hostilities and even potentially force the administration to wind down the conflict.<\/p>\n This week, Semafor reported on \u201crestlessness\u201d<\/a> among even some members of the GOP, but there is little sense that Trump will be forcefully restrained anytime soon.<\/p>\n Yet the issue of congressional oversight could be front and center on Wednesday as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine are set to testify before Congress<\/a> and answer questions from lawmakers for the first time in over a month.<\/p>\n Despite possible fireworks as the Trump officials answer questions from Democrats, Signum Global Advisors said in a note to clients that any moves in Congress to meaningfully constrain the administration \u201care unlikely to succeed\u201d absent a major escalation from Trump.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because, the group notes, the White House could move to delay a vote, Trump allies like House Speaker Mike Johnson could block action, and the administration could even challenge a resolution in court in the unlikely event it is passed.<\/p>\n Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.<\/p>\n![\"President](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f91755fb-24dd-4314-822e-8c555a970e18.jpeg\")
President Trump arrives for the state dinner at the White House on Tuesday. (Aaron Chown\/PA Images via Getty Images) \u00b7 Aaron Chown – PA Images via Getty Images <\/p>\n Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seen in Tokyo on April 23. (Kazuhiro Nogi\/AFP via Getty Images) \u00b7 KAZUHIRO NOGI via Getty Images <\/p>\n
Secretary Hegseth arrives to a state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on April 28. (Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images) \u00b7 Andrew Harnik via Getty Images <\/p>\n