Trump heralds Iran deal but questions - and risks - remain

The deal held – at least long enough for it to be publicly announced. But if Israel begins new military operations in Lebanon, Iran could decide to close Hormuz again and again jeopardise the global economy.In his comments, Vance also acknowledged the pain this war has caused many Americans because of higher energy prices and their knock-on economic effects."My primary message to the American people is thank you," he said, as he promised that energy prices would start coming down.How quickly that happens, and how quickly that translates into lower consumer costs across the board for Americans confronting financial hardships, will go a long way in determining whether the growing political pressure on Republicans abates before November's midterm congressional elections.According to recent polling, Trump and his party are facing an increasingly restive public. A YouGov survey found that 63% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy, with 57% feeling the economy was getting worse.At minimum, however, Sunday's deal should help alleviate, if not entirely remove, some of the economic strain from the ongoing conflict. If petrol prices start dropping in earnest, it could be a tangible sign for Americans that things are getting better.It's a notable step towards the way things were before the start of the war, even if Trump's larger goals remain unrealised for now and he still faces political peril at home.