Trump’s Iran brinkmanship tests war powers as oil leverage surfaces

Trump used social media posts and a Fox News interview to threaten U.S. strikes on Iran and to seize Kharg Island to control Iran’s oil markets, a plan experts say would need congressional authorization and likely ground troops, with broad unpopularity and waning support. The episode ties into opaque Venezuelan oil arrangements, sanctions and probe concerns, and ongoing debates over war powers, audits, and intelligence leadership. Inside the White House, anger and loyalty‑driven decision making coexist with pressure over FISA and DNI appointments, while oil executives warn gas prices could rise; ultimately Trump canceled the strikes and kept a naval blockade, signaling a fragile de‑escalation amid unresolved tensions.