Energy Secretary tells Americans not to fear Iran gas price surge
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Americans not to worry about the possibility of another sharp increase in gasoline prices as tensions with Iran begin to escalate again.
Asked whether Americans should worry about high prices at the pump and how the Trump administration will prepare to keep the economy stable if the conflict continues to worsen, Wright told Fox News Digital: “There was no good behavior from Iran that allowed the oil to flow. It was the US military.”
“That’s not changing,” he assured this week while speaking at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.
THE USA GAINED BACK THE KEY TIMS IT GIVEN TO IRAN AFTER THE NEW ATTACKS ON MERCHANT SHIPS IN THE STRAIT OF KORUZ
(Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
With Iran hitting three commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, Wright called on citizens not to credit Iran for the US military’s efforts to ensure the continuation of oil shipments through the Strait.
“Look, the U.S. Army is the most important asset here,” he said. “They secured the flow of oil and gas across the Strait of Hormuz. Not at the beginning of the conflict, but during the last six weeks.”
Wright said that the administration is closely monitoring the global oil supply as the temporary ceasefire with Iran has come to a halt, and that President Donald Trump told Secretary General Mark Rutte at the NATO Summit held in Türkiye on Wednesday that his call for peace with Iran is “over”.
However, he cited the continuation of shipping through the Bosphorus as evidence that markets should remain stable.
TRUMP SAID THE IRAN CEASE CEASE IS ‘OVER’ AFTER IRAN ATTACKS TRIGGERED MAJOR US INTERVENTIONS
President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Tuesday, April 22. (AP/Alex Brandon)
“Of course, we’re constantly monitoring the oil supply, the refined product supply and what’s going on there,” Wright said. “And I think there are still all positive trends.”
Beyond geopolitical concerns, Wright also praised Freedom Fuel, a new chain of discount gas stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; this chain promises customers prices below the national average.
The Trump administration has largely approved of the new chain and its 25 locations, although it is not involved with the network.
“We love it,” Wright said when asked about Freedom Fuel. “I mean, look, we’re all on board with whatever mechanism we can to lower energy costs for Americans of all stripes.”
“With Freedom Fuels, they just break it down to the wholesale price of gasoline,” Wright said. “So they don’t make money selling gas, but they have convenience stores. That’s how most gas stations make money.”
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Gasoline costs are a known concern for many Americans, and amid rising prices, there has been a significant increase in the number of people choosing to purchase electric vehicles to save money in the long run at the pump; Tesla dominates the market for such models.
Wright argued that one of the benefits of living in America is having the option to choose what type of vehicle you drive.
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“We just want people to buy what they prefer,” he told Fox News Digital when asked about his thoughts on growing calls for support for the electrification of cars. “It’s consumer choice; you want to buy an electric car, you want to buy a gas-powered car, you want to buy a diesel-powered car, you want to buy a big truck. That’s the choice.”
“That’s why you live in America. You have the right to choose all of these things.”
