Strait Of Hormuz Crisis, Gas Price Politics, Iranian School Strike Investigation

March 12, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The war in the Middle East has taken a decisive turn at sea, with Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic even as it loses the air war. President Trump, who campaigned on lowering gas prices, now calls rising costs "a very small price to pay" for the conflict. Meanwhile, a Pentagon investigation has determined the U.S. was at fault for a missile strike on a girls' school that killed at least 165 civilians, raising questions about the administration's cuts to civilian protection offices.

The Strait of Hormuz: Iran's Asymmetric Advantage

While the U.S. and Israel have struck more than 5,000 targets in Iran—nearly 500 a day—and President Trump claims there is "practically nothing left to target," the situation at sea tells a different story. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage just 20 miles wide at its narrowest point, is effectively closed. Iran has struck several commercial ships in the Persian Gulf, and images show plumes of smoke rising from one vessel. The U.S. has sunk most of Iran's Navy, including mine-laying ships, but Iran retains other means to hit oil tankers and cargo ships in the strait.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:02) **Strait of Hormuz Crisis & Airstrike Update** - President Trump claims "practically nothing left to target" in Iran as US/Israeli airstrikes continue, while Iran strangles traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
2 (01:44) **Airstrike Campaign: Diminishing Returns** - The Pentagon says the US has hit more than 5,000 targets. Trump sends mixed signals on whether the war could end soon.
3 (02:31) **Iran's Hold on the Strait of Hormuz** - Iran has a strong hold over the strait despite the US sinking most of its navy, using other methods to hit oil tankers and cargo ships.
4 (03:01) **Economic Impact: Largest Oil Supply Disruption in History** - Oil prices flirt with $100 a barrel; 20% of the world's oil (20 million barrels/day) comes through the strait.
5 (04:29) **Nuclear Status: The Unanswered Question** - The biggest question is the status of nearly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium buried near Isfahan.
6 (05:34) **Gas Price Politics: Tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve** - The Trump administration taps the strategic petroleum reserve to try to bring down gas prices, now averaging $3.61/gallon.
7 (06:47) **Historical Precedent and Political Risk** - Tapping the reserve is a play tried by President Biden after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which only reduced prices by 20-25 cents.

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Guests on this episode

Gregory Brew Chris Wright Jared Bernstein Stephen Moore Oona Hathaway

Show Notes

Three commercial oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. and Israeli airstrikes continue on Tehran — Iran may be losing the war in the air, but it is strangling one of the world's most vital waterways and shaking global markets.
President Trump, who campaigned on bringing gas prices down, is now tapping the strategic petroleum reserve as the war drives prices up.
And the Pentagon has determined the U.S. is responsible for a missile strike on a girls school in Iran that killed at least 165 civilians on day one of the war — NPR has learned the school had been walled off from a nearby military base years before the strike.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Rebekah Metzler, James Hider, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange

Our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:58) Strait Of Hormuz Crisis
(06:17) Gas Price Politics
(10:25) Iranian School Strike Investigation

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