Oil has surged since the Iran conflict – but gas prices may not be done rising
Crude prices have spiked following supply disruptions tied to the Iran conflict. Analysts say the full impact on US gasoline prices may still be ahead
Former State Department deputy special envoy Ellie Cohanim discusses ongoing talks between U.S. officials and Iran over its nuclear program on ‘The Bottom Line.’
Oil prices have surged more than 40% since the start of the Iran conflict, rattling global energy markets and raising concerns that U.S. drivers could see further increases at the pump.
Analysts say consumers may not have felt the full impact yet, as higher crude costs typically take weeks to filter through to retail gasoline prices. Even if oil stabilizes, pump prices could continue rising in the near term.
"More than likely there is more to come, because there’s usually a lag between crude prices and what consumers pay at the pump," said Phil Flynn, a FOX Business contributor and senior market analyst at Price Futures Group.
Michael Mische, a supply chain expert and professor at the University of Southern California, also predicted the worst is not over, telling FOX Business: "There's more still to come."
"There is a lag, and prices will continue to work their way through the system," he said.
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Prices are seen at a gas station in Downtown Brooklyn, New York, United States, on March 18, 2026. (Matthew Hoen/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude closed at $99.64 a barrel on Friday, remaining elevated after a volatile stretch tied to the conflict. While prices were on track for their first weekly decline in more than a month, they remain sharply higher than pre-conflict levels.
The rally follows supply disruptions linked to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which analysts estimate have removed roughly 10 million to 11 million barrels per day from global markets, tightening supply.
Gas prices are displayed at a Mobile Gas station on March 17, 2026 in the Kensington neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Geopolitical uncertainty continues to drive the market. The U.S. has extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a critical route for global oil shipments—while also weighing additional military action. Prices could fall if the conflict eases but are likely to remain above pre-conflict levels, while a prolonged escalation could push prices higher.
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"Even with this supply shock, the increase has been relatively orderly—and it could have been much worse," Flynn said.
But Mische noted that strong domestic production has helped cushion the impact. "If we didn’t have current U.S. production levels, we would be in a real mess," he said.
For consumers, gasoline prices have already begun to rise, but further increases may be ahead as the earlier crude spike continues to pass through the system.
High gas prices are listed at Chevron gas station in Los Angeles on March 9, 2026, as gasoline prices surge amid the ongoing war with Iran. (Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images)
The national average price for regular gasoline stood at roughly $3.98 per gallon, according to AAA—up about 6 cents from a week ago and nearly $1 higher than a month ago. GasBuddy data shows a similar trend, with prices rising about 7 cents week over week and more than $1 over the past month.
That increase largely reflects earlier gains in oil, and because retail fuel prices lag crude movements, analysts expect additional upward pressure in the coming weeks.
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Seasonal factors are also contributing. The transition to more expensive summer gasoline blends is underway, increasing refining costs and potentially keeping pump prices elevated even if crude stabilizes.
"Prices go up like rockets, and they come down like a feather," Mische said.
Reuters contributed to this report.