White House watching rising gas prices

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The war with Iran has essentially blocked oil from being transported through the Strait of Hormuz. That’s contributed to a spike in gasoline prices for Americans.

The Straits of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil chokepoint. Before the war with Iran, 20% of the world’s oil was transported through the Straits every day.

The Strait has been essentially shut down since the weekend – as oil companies have decided to play it safe and stop transporting oil through this critical waterway. The military operations against Iran are effectively blocked petroleum exports.

On Wednesday, Gray Media’s White House correspondent Jon Decker asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt about when the Straits can once again be safe to use.

Jon Decker, White House Correspondent:

“The timeline for making the Strait of Hormuz safe for oil tankers to transport their oil through the strait. What is that timeline? And what can the president do to speed up that timeline?”

Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary:

“I don’t want to commit to a timeline, but certainly it’s something that is being calculated actively by both the Department of War and the Department of Energy. They’re working very closely. Both secretaries are in all of the briefings, on this subject with the president. And this is, again, something they’re monitoring. And if and when necessary, the United States Navy will provide assistance to escort oil tankers through the Strait.”

The impact of the war is already being felt here in the U.S. AAA says the average price of a gallon of gas has surged by 22 cents since Saturday. And as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains unsafe, it’s unlikely that gas prices will be coming down anytime soon.

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