Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-09-04 · by Al Jazeera Staff
The national average price of diesel in the US has reached a record high of $5.85 per gallon due to the ongoing war with Iran, surpassing the previous peak set after Russia invaded Ukraine in June 2022. The price hike is expected to increase transportation and production costs for many products, including groceries, just weeks ahead of the congressional midterm elections. The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that crude oil prices have risen to $90 per barrel due to continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for global energy trade. US public opinion polls show that the war with Iran remains unpopular among voters, and rising costs of living are emerging as a top electoral issue.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The national average price of diesel in the US reached an all-time high of $5.85 per gallon on Friday, surpassing the previous peak set in June 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. The American Automobile Association (AAA) reported this new record, which comes as President Donald Trump's administration continues to deal with the aftermath of the war with Iran. Diesel prices have surged since February when Iran responded to US and Israeli strikes by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for global energy trade. This has led to increased transportation and production costs for many products, including groceries. The high diesel price is also expected to impact the California economy, with prices nearing $7.71 per gallon in some areas. The war-driven disruptions to fuel supplies are driving up costs for small trucking fleets, family farms, and low-income households. Economists say the diesel spike is not unprecedented, but it comes at a time when voters are already sour on the economy ahead of November's midterm elections.
Written for “US Diesel Price Crisis” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
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The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 3703 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-04
The price of diesel in the United States has reached a record high of $5.85 per gallon (3.9 liters) amid the war with Iran, despite President Donald Trump’s repeated claim that the US is in control of the Strait of Hormuz.
uncertain
US → reach → Hormuz
The new record for the national average price, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), was set on Friday, surpassing the previous peak that was recorded in June 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.
uncertain
Russia → accord → Ukraine
list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Iran war: Why US midterms could be a pivotal moment
- list 2 of 3South Korea mulls ‘contributions’ in Strait of Hormuz
- list 3 of 3‘Things happen’: How Vance’s comment on Iran wedding strike fits US pattern
Diesel – which is mostly refined from crude oil in the US – is used to power heavy machinery, buses, trains and large trucks.
uncertain
which → mull → machinery
The price hike is expected to increase the transportation and production costs of many products, including groceries.
asserted
hike → expect → groceries
The new record came weeks ahead of the congressional midterm elections in November as Trump’s Republican Party pushes to retain control of the US Senate and US House of Representatives.
asserted
Party → come → Representatives
Public opinion polls have shown that the war with Iran remains unpopular with US voters, and the cost of living has emerged as a top electoral issue across the country.
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cost → show → country
The price of gasoline has also continued to rise in recent days, reaching $4.14 on Friday ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend in the US.
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price → continue → US
“Labor Day weekend travelers are facing the highest gas prices ever for this time of year,” AAA said in a report on Friday.
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AAA → face → Friday
“Continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil prices in the $90 per barrel range.
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volatility → continue → range
After a record-setting August, this Labor Day weekend is on track to also set a record at the pump.
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weekend → set → pump
The national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day.”
A gallon of gasoline was less than $3 before the Trump administration joined Israel in starting the war on Iran.
Tehran responded to the opening US and Israeli strikes in February by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz – a major artery for the global energy trade – sending oil and gas prices soaring.
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prices → join → trade
In recent weeks, Trump and his allies have been arguing that the US military is now in control of the waterway and overseeing the passage of millions of barrels of oil through it.
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military → argue → it
Trump shared a social media post on Thursday claiming that 18 million barrels of oil are passing through the strait daily, nearly the same amount as the pre-war levels.
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barrels → share → levels
US Vice President JD Vance reiterated the same message on Thursday, telling reporters that Iran’s control over Hormuz is “effectively gone”.
“If you go back three months ago, how much oil and gas was coming out of the strait under Iranian threats?
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oil → reiterate → threats
Now, it’s almost back to where it was before the conflict even started,” Vance said.
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Vance → ’ → ?
It is difficult to verify the amount of oil passing through the strait because the tankers crossing under US protection turn off their transponders to go undetected by Iranian forces.
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tankers → verify → forces
Iran, however, has accused the US administration of trying to manipulate the market, insisting that Hormuz is still under Tehran’s control.
asserted
Hormuz → accuse → control
Suspected Iranian strikes on ships in the strait have continued almost daily.
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strikes → continue → strait
Earlier this week, an attack on a Saudi tanker killed two sailors.
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attack → kill → sailors
On Wednesday, the US president suggested renaming Hormuz the Trump Strait.
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president → rename → Wednesday
He also previously said the waterway would become an American territory.
asserted
waterway → say → ?
