Gas hits highest since 2022 as Hormuz closure squeezes pumps

Rising gas prices have hit their highest levels since early 2022 across the United States following the US and Israel attack on Iran, which began on February 28, 2026. The hostilities have disrupted oil supply as Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade artery responsible for transporting a fifth of the world's oil and gas. In already-expensive California, pump prices have climbed above $1.59 per litre ($6 per gallon), compared with approximately $1.20 per litre ($4.50 per gallon) before the war. President Donald Trump has maintained that the military action was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but polls indicate a clear majority of Americans disapprove of the conflict, citing unclear war aims. At a Los Angeles petrol station, 28-year-old Ryder Thomas paid $130 to fill his pickup truck, $30 more than before the attack. Expressing anger not just at the cost but the cause, Thomas said, "There was absolutely no need for this war. It's just like when we invaded Iraq, there were no weapons of mass destruction." Trump supporter David Chavez acknowledged the price increases were difficult but cautioned against blaming one person, pointing to oil companies he accused of artificially inflating prices and California's stricter environmental regulations that raise costs for motorists. Meanwhile, 73-year-old retiree Flo, who did not provide her full name, told AFP she now relies on food banks and has reduced driving as petrol consumes a significant portion of her roughly $3,000 monthly income from pension and part-time work. The price surge extends beyond fuel, with Americans like Thomas worrying about a domino effect pushing up costs for everyday goods including food and clothing as transportation expenses rise. Trump, who campaigned on reducing costs for everyday Americans, faces criticism from voters across the political spectrum, though some supporters maintain he handles issues better than alternatives despite their disappointment. The conflict recalls the 2022 global oil price surge triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, though the current crisis stems from Middle East hostilities rather than European conflict.