President Donald Trump on Monday rejected his energy secretary's projection a day earlier that U.S. gas prices may not fall below $3 per gallon until next year, arguing instead that prices will drop sooner if the conflict with Iran is resolved.
"No, I think he's wrong on that. Totally wrong," Trump told The Hill, pushing back on recent comments by Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
When asked when Americans could expect relief at the pump, Trump said, "as soon as this [the war with Iran] ends."
Wright, speaking Sunday on CNN, struck a more cautious tone, saying it was uncertain whether prices would dip below $3 this year or next because of ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
"I don't know. That could happen later this year. That might not happen until next year," Wright said, while adding that prices have likely peaked and should begin to decline. "Certainly, with a resolution of this conflict, you will see prices go down."
The differing outlook highlights a split within the administration, as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that gas prices could fall into the $3 range as early as this summer, The Hill reported.
Global oil markets have been jolted in recent days amid Iran's restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies. U.S. gas prices have climbed above $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, according to AAA.
Oil prices surged further after the U.S. seized an Iranian vessel near the strait on Sunday. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose to about $94 per barrel on Monday, while West Texas Intermediate traded near $88.
The U.S. has also intensified pressure on Tehran by enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports, a move Trump said is inflicting heavy economic losses.
"The blockade is very powerful, very strong. They lose $500 million a day with the blockade up," Trump said. "We control it. They don't control it."
Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead a U.S. delegation to Islamabad for talks with Pakistani and Iranian officials. However, Iran's Foreign Ministry said Monday that no decision has been made on whether Tehran will participate in negotiations.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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