WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is convening his Cabinet at the Camp David presidential retreat on Friday as his administration confronts the escalating conflict with Iran and rising fuel prices that are increasingly becoming a political liability for Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that the gathering would mark the 13th Cabinet meeting of Trump’s second term. She described the retreat as “a lot of fun and something different for the Cabinet to experience together.”
Foreign policy expected to take centre stage
Foreign policy is expected to dominate the meeting, with discussions focusing on the ongoing conflict with Iran. The war, now entering its fifth month, has continued far longer than Trump initially projected, with the United States and Iran engaged in sustained retaliatory strikes.
The prolonged conflict has heightened concerns over regional stability while adding pressure on the administration to outline a strategy for ending the hostilities.
Trump’s Cabinet heads to Camp David to weigh its next move on Iran.
It comes hours after Trump announced a “historic” deal, brokered with Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, under which Hamas agreed to full disarmament. pic.twitter.com/ye65Eb1G5h
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 31, 2026
Rising fuel prices add political pressure
The war has also driven up fuel prices, increasing economic concerns for American consumers and creating fresh political challenges for Republicans.
According to a recent Reuters-Ipsos poll, only one in three Americans now support the conflict, marking the lowest level of public approval since the early stages of the war.
The economic impact, particularly higher fuel costs, has unsettled Republican lawmakers as they prepare for the November congressional elections, where Democrats are aiming to regain control of Congress.
US-Iran hostilities escalate
Hostilities between the United States and Iran escalated on Friday after Tehran claimed it had struck two oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz under US air escort.
The claim has raised fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, which transits one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Also Read: US-Iran Hostilities Escalate as Tehran Claims Tanker Strikes
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the “non-compliant oil tankers” were targeted and brought to a halt after allegedly attempting to pass through the strait using an undeclared route.
The IRGC added that four other tankers altered course and returned to their previous positions following the incident.
Iranian authorities did not identify the vessels or provide details regarding casualties, damage, or ownership.
The United States had not immediately commented on Iran’s claims at the time of filing.
Washington has, however, repeatedly pledged to protect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. It has also supported escorted commercial transits in recent weeks as attacks on shipping intensified across the region.
The reported strike comes amid an expanding confrontation between Tehran and Washington. US military has intensified attacks on Iranian targets.
Iran-US bone of contention
The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, carries roughly one-fifth of global seaborne oil supplies.
The waterway has witnessed repeated disruptions since the outbreak of the current conflict. The disruptions have prompted a sharp increase in war-risk insurance premiums and forced some shipping companies to reconsider voyages through the area.
Maritime security agencies have reported multiple incidents involving commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks. The situation has intensified fears that the conflict could increasingly spill over into international shipping lanes and energy markets.
US to hit Iran ‘hard’
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US military will hit Iran “hard” after a missile attack against US bases in Jordan, Fox News reported.
“We’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating,” Fox’s correspondent quoted Trump as saying, adding that the US president used swear words to emphasise his point: “We are going to beat the ‘effing s’ out of them.”
About negotiations with Iran for a peace deal, Trump said: “We’re going to let them keep talking.”
