DUBAI/CAIRO/GARDEN CITY, New York: Iran has called on the United States to accept that it has been defeated, while U.S. President Donald Trump described Tehran as a "very evil" country and warned Americans that fuel prices could remain high as the war continues.

There was still no clear progress towards peace talks, and oil tanker traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz remained largely halted. There were also no signs that Iran, the United States or Israel were moving closer to an agreement that could bring the conflict to an end. The United States and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would remain in control of the waterway and would decide when it could be opened. He made the comments in a post on X early on August 15.

"This strait will be opened and closed only under Iran's command, and so long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in fantasies, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade," Gharibabadi said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also said that Tehran had not yet decided whether it would return to negotiations with the United States.

In an interview with Iranian news outlet Shahrara News, published on August 15, Araqchi said Washington would have to meet Iran's conditions concerning the Strait of Hormuz before shipping could resume.

The waterway is one of the world's most important energy routes. Before the war began, about one-fifth of the world's oil supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

While Iran continued to insist on its position, Trump told Americans that they should be prepared to pay somewhat more for petrol while the conflict continued.

At a political rally in Garden City, New York, on August 14, Trump said that paying "a tiny little bit more for your gasoline" was a price worth accepting to prevent what he called "a very evil country" from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon has been one of the reasons Trump has given for the war.

Higher fuel prices have already become a concern for American consumers. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States stood at about US$4.08 on August 14, according to the American Automobile Association. That was a 29 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier.

The increase comes at a politically difficult time for Trump and his Republican Party. Trump had campaigned for re-election by promising to reduce energy costs. Democrats are now seeking to use the war's economic impact, including higher fuel prices, as an issue in the November congressional elections.

Oil prices also continued to rise as uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz affected global energy markets. Crude oil futures increased by about $1 a barrel on August 14.

Benchmark Brent crude futures were heading towards a weekly gain of six percent, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were set for a rise of about 5.4 percent over the same period.

Gharibabadi also rejected the idea that the United States could take control of the Strait of Hormuz simply through military power or political statements.

"The Strait of Hormuz ​cannot be seized by a tweet or an aircraft carrier, by issuing an order or by delivering an election speech," he said.

Despite Iran's strong and defiant statements, there were signs that the conflict was also beginning to cause serious economic pressure inside Iran.