Vice President JD Vance is standing firmly behind President Donald Trump's economic squeeze on Iran, arguing that it's working to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and keep oil flowing.

Oil Is Flowing Through the Strait Of Hormuz

On Thursday, the White House's Rapid Response account shared clips of Vance's interview on The Clay and Buck Show. During the appearance, Vance acknowledged that oil prices have been elevated, but he pointed out they've "come down substantially from their high point." That's because the U.S. military has been able to "get a lot of oil and gas out of the Strait of Hormuz," a point also echoed by Trump's Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Vance called the waterway a "leverage point" for Iran, but stressed that the volume of oil moving through it needs to grow. "If we can get enough oil and gas out to give Americans some ease at the pump," while Iranians are "punished for shooting at commercial ships," it would apply "a lot of economic pressure" on Tehran.

He also vowed that the U.S. would "do everything that we can to make sure" Iran can't target commercial vessels. "I think we've been quite successful," he added.

Economic Pressure Signals New Phase, Says JD Vance

Vance described the current situation as a "new phase," noting that the U.S. has already put pressure on Iran's weapons manufacturing. The "most effective" tool at Washington's disposal, he said, is "economic pressure."

He acknowledged the situation is "delicate" because Iran could try to apply its own economic pressure on the U.S. But he argued, "They've felt a lot more pressure than we have."

"We're going to keep that going because we think that's the best way to ultimately accomplish the final objective," Vance said, referring to denuclearization. He also made clear the U.S. wants to ensure Iran doesn't build nuclear facilities.

Trump Releases Winter Blend Gas Early

In a related move, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency fuel waiver on Thursday to allow an early switch to winter blends of gasoline. According to the agency, this will boost gas supply by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day, which should translate to lower prices at the pump.

Meanwhile, diesel prices in the U.S. remain stubbornly high. The diesel crack spread, which measures refiners' profit margins for turning crude into diesel, had earlier hit $102 per barrel.