🔍 Context

Here is a 3-5 paragraph summary of the US story:

The conflict in Iran has led to a surge in gas prices for Americans, with an average increase of 50 cents per gallon since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28. The average price of gas reached $3.63 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA, while diesel prices rose to $4.89 per gallon. The increases have been driven by volatility in oil prices, which closed above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 due to the conflict.

The rise in gas prices has put Republicans on the defensive over their past criticism of President Biden's handling of energy prices. During his State of the Union address, former President Trump touted low gas prices as a major achievement, saying that gasoline had reached a peak of over $6 per gallon under his predecessor but was now below $2.30 per gallon in most states. However, with gas prices soaring amid the Iran conflict, Republicans are struggling to maintain their affordability messaging.

Democrats have seized on rising prices at the pump, with Senator Angus King (I-Maine) saying that the administration should have thought about the impact before launching Operation Epic Fury. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on social media that "Donald Trump's war has sent gas prices skyrocketing through the roof." Republicans, however, are confident that the rise in gas prices will be temporary and argue that a defeated Iran will ultimately lead to lower energy costs.

Some Republicans are warning that high oil and gas prices could be catastrophic for the party's midterm prospects. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told Fox Business that "if you add in high gas prices, high oil prices, and if we are still bombing Iran with kinetic action… I think you're going to see a disastrous election." A Reuters-Ipsos poll found that nearly seven in 10 Americans expect gas prices to keep increasing in the coming months.

Center assessment: Gas prices have surged amid the Iran conflict, putting Republicans on the defensive over their past criticism of President Biden's energy policies.