Trump's cabinet "breathes": The war will last for weeks, and Americans will have to endure "short-term" price increases

# Zhao Ying

Trump administration officials have made a flurry of appearances to set the tone: the Pentagon estimates the conflict will last four to six weeks and is “ahead of schedule,” while elevated energy prices will persist for several more weeks. Officials acknowledged they anticipated the price shock before launching the war, framing it as “short-term pain for long-term gain,” and predicted a “major positive shock” to the global economy once the conflict ends.

As the U.S.-Iran war enters its third week, Trump administration officials have stepped forward in droves to defend surging energy prices and signal to the public that the conflict is far from over.

According to media reports, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Sunday that the Pentagon estimates the war against Iran will take four to six weeks, and operations are currently “ahead of expectations.” Energy Secretary Chris Wright signaled the same day that high oil and gasoline prices will persist for several more weeks.

Multiple administration officials appeared across major U.S. television programs on the same day, speaking with a unified voice to urge patience from the American public and framing the military action in the Middle East as a “short-term cost” worth paying.

Brent crude closed above $103 per barrel on Friday, as Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz—a waterway that normally carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The relentless rise in energy prices is filtering through to consumer spending and stoking market fears about the inflation outlook.

## Pentagon provides timeline, officials say operations “ahead of schedule”

Hassett disclosed Sunday on CBS’s *Face the Nation* that as of Saturday, the Pentagon “believes this mission will take four to six weeks, and we are currently ahead of schedule.” He added that the final decision on when the war ends rests with Trump himself.

Hassett struck an optimistic tone about the post-war economic outlook, stating, “We expect a major positive shock to the global economy once this conflict is over.”

Energy Secretary Wright told ABC’s *This Week*, “This conflict will definitely end in the coming weeks—perhaps even sooner—and we will see supply rebound and prices come down accordingly.” On NBC, he further stated that consultations are underway with relevant countries regarding Trump’s call for a multinational escort mission, adding, “We will secure support from other nations to achieve this goal.”

## Administration frames energy price surge as “short-term pain for long-term gain”

Facing pressure on ordinary consumers from oil prices topping $100 and rising gasoline costs, Trump administration officials have taken a proactive stance, embedding the current price shock within a broader strategic narrative.

Wright acknowledged that the government anticipated “short-term disruptions” and “a degree of price increases for the American people” before deciding to go to war with Iran. “This is short-term pain to reach a better place,” he told ABC. “But the most important thing right now is to completely destroy Iran’s ability to project military power in the region and globally.”

Hassett defended the administration’s position from an energy supply perspective, emphasizing that U.S. domestic oil production is abundant and Iran’s leverage is far less than during the 1970s oil crisis.

## Hormuz blockade persists, multinational escort mission faces resistance

Iran’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains the core driver of elevated oil prices. On Saturday, Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to deploy warships to maintain passage through the strait, but the outlook for multilateral response remains unclear.

A senior official from Japan’s ruling party stated that dispatching Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to escort tankers in the Middle East would face an “extremely high threshold.” While Wright said outreach has been made to the countries named by Trump, he provided no details on progress.

For its part, Iran’s leadership has maintained a tough stance in the face of U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, insisting on keeping the strait blocked. This means that until the conflict ends, structural pressures on global energy supplies will not ease materially, and market uncertainty about oil price trends will persist.

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