US Gas Prices Soar to $4.30/Gallon as Trump Promises Post-War Drop
Al Jazeera Staff
Average US gasoline prices hit $4.30 per gallon, a four-year high, as the standoff with Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz drive crude above $100/barrel. President Trump insists prices will fall sharply after the war ends, but analysts warn oil costs don't automatically cool with a ceasefire. California saw prices exceed $6/gallon, and the spike has dented Trump's approval ratings amid rising public discontent.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average US gasoline price on May 1, 2026, reached $4.30 per gallon, up 27 cents from the previous week and $1.12 higher than the same period last year. The primary cause is the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran that began on February 28, coupled with Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
California, the most populous US state, recorded gas prices exceeding $6 per gallon. AAA says crude oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel, with no signs the Strait of Hormuz will reopen soon.
The spike in energy costs has fueled inflation and economic unease, eroding President Trump's approval ratings. Recent opinion polls show his job approval at a record low as public discontent grows over the conflict with Iran.
When asked about the latest price jump, President Trump reiterated his argument that the increase is a temporary price worth paying for the military campaign. He told reporters, "Gas will go down. As soon as the war is over, it will drop like a rock." He also claimed Iran is "dying to make a deal" and called the naval blockade against Tehran "unbelievable."
However, contrary to Trump's statements, US gasoline prices have continued to climb even after a ceasefire was reached on April 8. Analysts note that oil prices do not automatically fall after hostilities end. Although the US is one of the world's largest oil producers and is not heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy, global prices still directly affect the price at the pump in America.
In Iran, President Masoud Pezeshkian on the same day voiced impatience with the current "no war, no peace" situation, calling the naval blockade "an extension of military operations against a nation paying the price for its resistance and independence." Pezeshkian wrote on social media: "The continuation of this oppressive approach is unbearable."
