When President Donald Trump announced the preliminary peace deal with Iran on June 14, noting, “Let the oil flow,” I breathed a sigh of relief. I don’t know how the deal will play out on a global scale, but as a Marine who fought in the first Gulf War whose son is an active-duty Navy sailor, I was grateful he wouldn’t have to risk his life in another conflict predicated on fighting over scarce energy resources.

Throughout history, wars have been fought over resources, and our modern wars in the Middle East are not at all different.