Explosions have rocked Tehran, the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to all vessels, and the US president has boasted about stealing Iran's oil under cover of darkness. This is a war that has escalated at dizzying speed, with the US launching 49 Tomahawk missiles deep inside Iran, Iran striking US bases across the Gulf, and the UK's closest allies scrambling to contain a separate conflict in Ukraine. For British readers, this is not just a distant crisis: it risks energy prices, global stability, and the attention of key allies.
The United States and Iran are engaged in open military conflict, triggered in late February 2026 after a breakdown in nuclear talks. US President Donald Trump has ordered waves of airstrikes, including what CENTCOM called "additional self-defense strikes" in response to Iranian "unwarranted and continued aggression." Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has retaliated with two-wave strikes against 18 key installations hosting US forces in the Middle East. The fighting has already shut the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20% of the world's oil, after clashes between US and IRGC naval units.
“Explains the 2026 US-Iran war, causes, impact on oil and UK, and key questions.”
The roots of this war lie in years of tension. Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, reimposing sanctions that crippled Iran's economy. After the 2020 killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, both sides edged toward confrontation, but a fragile ceasefire held until early 2026. In December 2025, the US had pushed Russia and Ukraine to sign a peace deal—but Trump's focus has now shifted entirely to Iran. In the past week, Trump openly threatened to attack Iran "very hard," and his defence secretary said CENTCOM "will be busy tonight."
For UK readers, the war has direct consequences. Inflation in the US has already risen to 4.2%, driven by energy costs—up from 2.4% before the conflict. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to spike oil prices worldwide, raising petrol and heating bills in Britain. Meanwhile, Ukraine's strongest European allies—the UK, France and Germany—met in London to set out five conditions for ending the war with Russia, but their attention is divided. The UK leads the "coalition of the willing" providing security guarantees for Ukraine, but a prolonged US-Iran war could drain American resources away from Europe.
Q: Why did the US and Iran start fighting? The immediate trigger was Iran's strikes on US bases in the Gulf, which followed US airstrikes on Iran. But the deeper cause is Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal and impose sanctions, followed by his explicit threat to "hit Iran very hard" if a peace deal wasn't secured.
Q: How is the war affecting oil prices? Trump claimed the US has been secretly removing "millions of barrels" of Iranian oil from the Strait of Hormuz, keeping prices at $85–90 a barrel instead of $250. However, the closure of the strait—and Iran's strikes on 18 US bases—have driven global uncertainty. US inflation hit 4.2% in May, driven by energy costs.
Q: What is the UK's role in this conflict? The UK is not directly a party, but it is deeply involved in parallel crises. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted talks with Ukraine, France and Germany, reiterating support for Kyiv. The UK also forms part of the E3 group (with France and Germany) that coordinates Western strategy toward both Ukraine and Iran.
What happens next is uncertain. Trump has vowed to "hit" Iran again if no deal is reached, while Iran has ordered the Strait of Hormuz closed to all vessels. Qatar is mediating, but fighting continues night after night. For Britons, the key risks are energy price shocks and a stretched US military that might be less able to support European allies. The next days will determine whether this escalates further or whether—as Trump claims—his secret oil seizures will force Iran to capitulate.