Gas Prices Jump 34 Cents in a Week as U.S.-Iran Conflict Rattles Oil Markets

American drivers are paying significantly more at the pump after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran sent global oil prices sharply higher, with experts warning that the worst may not be over.

The national average price of regular gasoline rose to $3.32 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA — up 34 cents from the week prior and the highest average since September 2024. That roughly 11 percent increase in a single week marks the fastest run-up in months.

The surge follows coordinated U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28. The fighting has concentrated near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes. Iranian threats against commercial tankers and the resulting slowdown in shipping traffic have rattled energy markets globally, pushing oil prices up nearly 30 percent since the conflict began.

Diesel has climbed even more steeply, with the national average reaching $4.33 per gallon — the highest since November 2023. Because diesel powers the vast majority of American freight trucks, analysts say higher fuel costs will likely begin filtering into grocery prices and other consumer goods within weeks.

When asked about the rising costs in an interview, President Trump offered a blunt response: "If they rise, they rise." The comment drew swift pushback from economists who noted that Trump repeatedly pledged during the 2024 campaign to drive gasoline prices below $2 per gallon. The national average now sits higher than it did on the first day of his current term.