The Iran war launched by President Trump on February 28, 2026, continues to drive up fuel prices for Americans, with no end in sight. GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan says pre-war prices may not return until mid-to-late 2027.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright's initial claim that price hikes would last "weeks" has proven false; he now admits recovery will take "many months." The administration's efforts, such as reopening the Sable Pipeline in Santa Barbara, have been dismissed as insufficient. California's clean energy leadership offers an alternative, but the state's progress cannot offset the global impact of the conflict.