Washington, March 10 (NationPress) Democratic legislators in the United States have strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s actions regarding Iran as gasoline prices rise sharply across the country. They are urging the White House to draw oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to alleviate the burden on American households.

Oil prices have surged into triple digits for the first time in four years, with crude oil nearing $120 a barrel due to disruptions in energy supplies from the Middle East. This increase has led to a significant rise in fuel prices nationwide.

Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi remarked that the escalating costs directly impact families already facing financial challenges.

“As a result of President Trump’s conflict in Iran, the average price per gallon in Illinois has jumped by almost fifty cents in just the last month. While President Trump claims this is a ‘very small price to pay,’ families struggling to fill their gas tanks have a different viewpoint,” Krishnamoorthi stated.

“It is evident that the President initiated this conflict without a viable strategy, no plan for resolution, and little regard for its consequences on hardworking Americans,” he added.

Krishnamoorthi urged the administration to promptly release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to stabilize fuel costs.

“I am calling on the White House to immediately utilize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gas prices. President Trump’s reluctance to use the Reserve—something we did when the conflict in Ukraine started—is inexplicable,” he expressed.

Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens also criticized the administration, stating that American families are facing the financial repercussions of the ongoing conflict.

“From the beginning, the Trump Administration has been detrimental to American families. From erratic tariffs to this reckless war, it’s apparent that Trump’s agenda only brings chaos to the global stage while making life less affordable for Americans here,” Stevens noted.

“America cannot sustain the $1 billion a day we are spending on this conflict, and American households cannot bear the escalating prices for oil and gas that are a direct result of the Trump Administration’s failure to predict Iran’s reaction,” she asserted.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also called for the administration to release oil from the reserve, warning that the conflict with Iran is already driving energy costs significantly higher across the nation.

“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created for situations like this,” Schumer said. “When wars and global crises disrupt energy markets, the United States has the capability to respond, yet President Trump and his administration are choosing not to act.”

Gas prices have increased by approximately 43 cents per gallon since the conflict escalated on February 28, reaching around $3.41 per gallon nationwide—a 14 percent rise in just one week and the highest levels recorded since 2024.

Disruptions to tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz have cut off about one-fifth of the global oil supply, exacerbating volatility in energy markets and driving fuel costs higher.

Schumer emphasized the need for immediate action from the administration.

“Trump should release oil from the SPR immediately to stabilize markets, reduce prices, and alleviate the price shock that American families are currently experiencing due to his reckless war,” he stated.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin also criticized the administration’s management of the situation.

“President Trump has attempted to portray himself as the ‘Peace President,’ but his actions tell a contrasting story,” Durbin commented. “With Iran, he has driven gas prices up, cost American lives, and created risks and uncertainties in a volatile region—without a clear strategy or end game.”

Durbin cautioned that wars come with substantial human and economic costs.

“I will never forget the rows of young men and women suffering from severe injuries due to roadside bombs and IEDs in the Iraq War,” he remarked. “That is the true cost of war—a conflict that this Administration fails to justify.”

The Democratic National Committee also criticized the administration, asserting that the rising fuel prices represent yet another economic burden on American families.

“Donald Trump is disconnected from the realities faced by everyday Americans,” stated DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer. “Working families are struggling to make ends meet while trying to afford basic necessities, from gas to groceries and healthcare.”