Is the War With Iran to Blame For the Jump in Idaho Gas Prices or is it Utah’s Fault?

Even before the US missile strike in Iran, experts were prepping for a bump in gasoline prices in Idaho and across the nation. The concern had some people confused about why a conflict with Iran would cause gas prices to rise in Idaho, and why it would affect Idaho more than other states around us.

Iran isn’t one of the top suppliers of crude oil to the United States, but the timing of the price jump is definitely tied to them.

Where Does Idaho Gasoline Come From and Why Did Prices Just Skyrocket

I’ve seen complaints on social media from people who didn’t understand why gas prices would jump and blamed local gas stations for profiting from the war. They believe gas stations are hiking prices to benefit from the current unrest around the world. But is there any truth to that?

The majority of crude oil coming into the United States is from Canada, followed by Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Iraq. The US imports crude oil and refines it locally to meet specific refinery needs. Idaho doesn’t have a refinery for crude oil. Our usable fuel comes from refineries in Utah through a pipeline that runs through Southern Idaho.

READ ALSO: Are Idahoans Happy About the Bombing of Iran

By default, since it takes more time and energy to get gasoline to our state, prices are often slightly higher than in some surrounding states. So why would the conflict with Iran affect any of this? A report from AAA states ‘a supply shortage somewhere affects the global picture’ and Idaho suffers the unfortunate consequence of being dependent on other states for our refined fuel.

We are paying about 15 cents more this week than last week, but it’s still about 20 cents lower than this time last year. For additional comparison, in July of 2022 we had our highest gas prices at $5.25. Washington and Oregon already saw a 20-cent fuel price jump last week. And prices aren’t done going up.

Can We Blame Iran for the Recent Gas Price Hike in Idaho

You can partially blame the conflict with Iran for the rise in gas prices, but fuel companies are known to create a special, higher-quality summer fuel blend between March and June to reduce smog emissions, and it costs more.

Utah recently attempted to pass a tax on fuel that would have left their state to Idaho, which would have cost Idahoans even more at the pump. The idea failed, which is great news for Idaho wallets and bank accounts.