The world is constantly changing with the current circumstances in the Middle East, even for people who are nowhere near the United States conflict with Iran and Israel. One of the things that has impacted Americans the most as of late is the rapid increase in gas prices. With the majority of people in the nation being dependent on their vehicles for their day-to-day lives, it is important to know why exactly this is happening and how it may not only affect gas but other factors in the economy as well.
February 28, 2026, was the day that the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran, in operation “Epic Fury”. This operation was carried out after a long period of tension between Iran and the American and Israeli governments, in particular, the threat that Iran’s nuclear program posed to other nations.
The U.S. has had a long and complicated relationship with the current Iranian regime, dating all the way back to the 1970s when Iran first became a theocracy. The official U.S. Department of State website states this about their ongoing support for the Iranian people, “The regime’s greatest victims are the Iranian people. Regime elites squander the people’s resources and opportunities, while suppressing freedom and basic human rights.”
(Alfredo Jimenez)
Even with Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei dead as a result of the initial strikes, retaliation has been strong from Iran. The single greatest asset at their disposal is the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway where all the oil from the Persian Gulf countries enters the global economy.
Iran has been blockading the Strait of Hormuz, and the impact that it has on the world is that around 20% of the oil in the world travels through it. A reduced amount of oil circulating in the world means demand goes up, and so do prices. Iran is intentionally targeting the U.S. with this tactic, as gas prices here have gone up about a dollar since the start of the conflict.
Previously, gas prices here in Owatonna reached as low as $2.40 per gallon, prior to Iran’s retaliation. But now, on average, they are around the $3.40 mark across gas stations in the area.
“Hopefully it gets better soon, it’s about 70 dollars to fill up my tank and that just isn’t sustainable. Makes it crazy expensive to drive around or even get to school and work.” said Owatonna High School senior Ryan McIntosh on how increased gas prices have impacted him as a student.
The reality of this is that gas is only the start of increasing prices. The world runs on gas as things are constantly being manufactured and distributed. This means everything from food to everyday items will also see an increase in price as the chain of distribution is tampered with due to the increased demand for oil.
