Gas prices at highest level since beginning of Iran war

The average cost of gas in the U.S. on Tuesday reached its highest level in four years — a result of skyrocketing energy prices triggered by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The national average reached $4.18, a 40-percent jump since the conflict began on Feb. 28, according to data from AAA. States in the West have seen some of the highest average gas prices, with California having the highest average at $5.97. Oklahoma holds the lowest average price of gas at $3.57.

Gas prices have not reached these high levels since April 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and the national average in the U.S. peaked at $4.11. This average reappeared on Monday before bumping up by 7 cents.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures, the U.S. benchmark, rose to over $99 per barrel on Tuesday, and Brent crude jumped to over $111 per barrel.

More than three-quarters of Americans blame President Trump for the surge in gas prices, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday. About 77 percent said he bears at least some responsibility, while 22 percent disagreed.

Prices leaped after Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz in the days following the start of the conflict. Iran reopened the strait twice only to briefly shut it down again, leaving the path of transit closed off to oil tankers transporting roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas.

Trump said Tuesday that Iran told the U.S. to reopen the strait, despite previously deploying a Navy fleet blockading ships seeking to enter the strait.

According to the president, Iran wants the U.S. “to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!)” he wrote online. Trump did not elaborate on who told him this or if the administration will comply.

Iranian officials submitted a proposal to end the war and reopen the strait, but it would also hold off on any discussions about Iran’s nuclear program, The Associated Press reported, citing two regional officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio derided this last portion of the proposal.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that at some point in the future, if this radical clerical regime remains in charge in Iran, they will decide they want a nuclear weapon,” Rubio told Fox News’s Trey Yingst. “That fundamental issue still has to be confronted. That still remains the core issue here.”

The Trump administration has defended its military offensive as a means to prevent Iran from being an “imminent nuclear threat.” The Islamic Republic has rejected these claims, arguing that its nuclear program was designed for peaceful purposes.