The war made us realize that the best leverage to put pressure on Trump is to increase the prices of oil and energy because it will harm the American people." Fayman Salehi, Tehran analyst, via The New York Times, October 21, 2026 - ᅠ Iran understands that the US is vulnerable to economic pain. By raising oil and energy prices, Tehran can directly influence US domestic politics and undermine Trump's political standing. ᅠ Subscribe to CSOFT Media for more information on the changing strategic landscape in West Asia.