Fort Myers residents see gas prices climb due to Iran conflict

FORT MYERS, Fla. - As the conflict in Iran intensifies, drivers in the U.S. are starting to feel the effects at the gas pump.

Mark Jennings from AAA explained that while gas prices are rising, they are not skyrocketing.

"The state average has been around $3.00 per gallon over the past year," said Jennings.

On Tuesday, the average gas price was $3.07, with expectations of rising to $3.19 by Wednesday. Jennings attributed the increases to the conflict in Iran, which has created uncertainty in the global oil market. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping channel, has led to oil sitting on barges, pushing crude oil prices higher.

Jennings noted, "Every $1 increase in the price of crude oil typically adds about 2.5 cents to the price of gasoline."

Florida experiences regular "gas price cycling," where gas stations lower prices to compete and then raise them on Mondays. This routine fluctuation is now compounded by conflict-related increases.

Victor Claar, a professor from Florida Gulf Coast University, shared insights on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Claar stated, "It's for real emergencies," likening it to a "break glass in case of emergency" scenario.

Claar also emphasized that the U.S. does not currently face a crisis requiring the SPR, as domestic production and global suppliers remain strong. Current price spikes are driven by supply chain disruptions and fear, not a structural shortage.

Drivers like Ron Klassem and Medilhomme Ceus expressed concerns over rising fuel costs. Klassem noted a significant price jump in just a few days, which impacts his business that requires large quantities of diesel fuel.

Ceus said, "It cost me $100 to fill a truck. But what now, I don't know. Maybe later on, it's going to be more."

Experts agree that the overall theme is uncertainty. Jennings concluded by stating that while gas prices are rising, they are not reaching "apocalyptic" levels.

The situation remains fluid, with potential for further fluctuations as the war in Iran continues to unfold.

For more data on daily gas price averages, head to AAA's website.