Vance Blames Iran for High US Gas Prices, Offers No Timeline for Relief

US Vice President JD Vance has attributed the current high price of gasoline in the United States to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping, while declining to offer a timeline for when American consumers might see relief at the pump.

Speaking at a White House briefing, Vance said the fundamental reason for elevated prices is that "the Iranians are shooting at commercial shipping," a situation he argued has disrupted global energy markets. He noted that while gas prices are higher in the US, they are "way worse everywhere else in the world," crediting the administration's energy policies for mitigating a more severe crisis.

When pressed on when Americans could expect prices to return to $3 per gallon, Vance refused to commit to a date. "I'm not going to make a promise about when it's going to return to $3," he said, adding that prices "could have been much, much higher" without US efforts to protect shipping lanes.

The remarks come after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested in July that prices might fall to $3 by Labor Day, a forecast that has not materialized. Current average US gas prices remain above $4 per gallon, a factor that has contributed to a decline in consumer confidence.

Vance also highlighted that approximately 15 million barrels of oil transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, despite ongoing Iranian threats. He framed the US military presence in the region as essential to preventing a worldwide energy crisis, stating that without President Trump's leadership and the work of US troops, such a crisis would have occurred.

Asked about potential support for Iranian dissidents, Vance said all options remain on the table but declined to discuss specifics. "Everything that could happen is on the table: economic pressure, military pressure, diplomatic pressure, covert pressure," he said, adding that he would not publicly advertise the administration's plans to preserve the President's decision space.