The U.S. is back in another on-again, off-again fight with Iran, and ordinary Americans are tired of it — bad news for anyone hoping for calm or cheaper gas.

• The U.S. and Iran keep swinging between friends and enemies, and now bombs are flying again.
• Most Americans have tuned out the drama and just want it to stop.
• The real pain point is the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping lane where much of the world's oil passes.
• Trouble there pushes gas prices up and hits everyday budgets more than anything else.

Outlook: As long as the Strait of Hormuz stays tense, expect higher gas prices and more public frustration.