JAKARTA - The United States (US) government is reportedly worried about the political impact if gasoline prices exceed 3 US dollars (about Rp51,300) per gallon.
"If we don't see gas prices at $3 a gallon, we're going to be hit," a source close to the White House said, as quoted by Politico as reported by ANTARA from Sputnik/RIA Novosti-OANA, Monday, April 20.
The report said strategists in and around President Donald Trump's administration realized how the energy market situation would likely develop as the US entered the election season this fall.
Earlier the same day, Trump said Energy Secretary Chris Wright was wrong when he said gas prices in the US might not come down until next year. When asked when prices would come down, the president replied "as soon as this is over."
On Sunday, Wright said gasoline prices were unlikely to return to pre-Iranian conflict levels this year.
On February 28, the US and Israel launched an attack on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, which caused damage and civilian casualties. Iran then retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East as a form of self-defense.
The escalation almost halted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for the shipment of oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf countries to global markets, thus pushing up fuel prices.
On April 7, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire.
The continuation of talks in Islamabad ended without results. Although there was no announcement of the resumption of hostilities, the US began to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.
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