per gallon, the highest since June 2022.
“The rising cost of gas impacts me daily since my parents pay half my gas, ”Penn-Trafford senior Sarah Ley said.
“It really limits where I can go each day and how far I am allowed to drive because it costs so much to go anywhere now.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a passage between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, sees nearly 25% of the global oil supply passing through, according to the International Energy Agency.
The Strait currently remains unpassable for oil ships due to Iranian attacks on ships and the U.S. naval blockade, with neither side giving in to negotiations.
“We’ve constricted the free flow of oil in the world. Because oil is a globally traded commodity, it doesn’t matter how much we pump in the United States. There’s still going to be a shortage,” P-T accounting teacher Matt Bilinsky said.
While the true cause could be traced back indefinitely, the recent trigger came after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28.
This attack, called Operation Epic Fury in America and Roaring Lion in Israel, mainly targeted Iran’s nuclear sites, but also took down military bases and leadership.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed, along with many members of the Iranian defense and leadership hierarchy.
In response to the attacks, Iran launched strikes against U.S. facilities in the Middle East, killing at least 13 U.S. service members, according to PBS News.
While a ceasefire eliminating direct fire began on April 7, the United States held a naval blockade over the Strait of Hormuz targeting Iranian oil exports. Iran has also blocked the passageway by attacking ships.
According to PBS News, Iran is unwilling to reopen the passageway until the United States ends its blockage and the war. President Donald Trump argues for a larger deal that ends Iran’s nuclear program and addresses the missile program and support for regional proxies.
“We’re dealing with people who want to make a deal very much, and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that is satisfactory to us,” Trump said on May 6 after submitting a peace proposal to Tehran.
Trump also paused “Project Freedom,” an initiative to remove stranded ships from the Strait of Hormuz, since a possible deal with Iran was being discussed.
Even if a deal is struck immediately, gas will take an estimated 3-6 months to return to normal. While oil prices may fall quickly, consumers must wait longer to see lower gas prices, according to the Center for American Progress.
“Have fun driving around this summer, paying $5 plus a gallon,” Bilinsky added with a grim smile.