Iran conflict drives surge in US gasoline prices

Gasoline prices in the United States have surged to $4.48 per gallon, reflecting an increase of nearly 50% since the start of military operations in Iran, according to data reported by the Associated Press, citing the American Automobile Association.

At the outset of the Iran campaign, the average price stood at $2.98 per gallon. Prices have continued to climb, rising by an additional 31 cents over the past week and reaching their highest level since 2022.

The sharpest increases have been recorded in California, where gasoline prices have exceeded $6.1 per gallon.

The rise in fuel costs is primarily driven by a broader global energy crisis and increasing oil prices linked to military actions by the United States and Israel in Iran. Although gasoline prices in the US declined for nearly two weeks in mid-April, the trend reversed after April 13, when Washington launched a naval blockade of Iran, a move that may have contributed to the renewed upward pressure on prices.

The all-time record for average gasoline prices in the United States was set in June 2022, when the price per gallon surpassed $5.

By Tamilla Hasanova