Washington, March 22 (NationPress) US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued a warning that the ongoing tensions with Iran are causing a significant surge in fuel and travel expenses. He emphasized that this rising cost pressure is impacting American consumers, even though supply chains continue to function normally.

During an interview on ABC News’ This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Duffy noted that while airlines are not experiencing supply shortages, they are feeling the strain from escalating fuel prices. “It’s all about the cost, right?” he remarked.

The alert comes as fuel prices in the United States have seen a steep increase since the onset of the conflict, with gasoline prices climbing approximately $1 per gallon in just over three weeks.

Duffy mentioned he has been in communication with major airlines to assess the situation. “All of them were like, nope, we feel very good about our supply chains,” he stated.

However, the rising cost of jet fuel is contributing to higher overall travel costs. Airlines are already making operational adjustments in response to the changing market dynamics.

He assured that there is no immediate decrease in overall flight availability related to the conflict. “There’s really no impact on how many flights we’re going to have,” he pointed out, explaining that some changes are due to operational factors rather than the war.

Duffy downplayed worries about a prolonged increase in ticket prices, suggesting that airlines are preparing for potential worst-case scenarios. Referring to projections of oil prices reaching $170 a barrel, he said that carriers “do well when they plan for the worst and hope for the best”.

The administration has implemented measures to alleviate the effects of rising energy costs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned that the US is relaxing certain restrictions on Iranian oil exports to stabilize prices. “We will be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians to keep the price down,” he stated earlier.

Duffy expressed that the current price pressures may not persist if the conflict is resolved quickly. “I think you’re going to see a very rapid rebound in energy prices once this conflict is settled,” he indicated.

He added that the administration anticipates the military operation will be short-lived. “The President stated this will be, you know, a four to six-week operation,” he said.

The increase in fuel costs is associated with disruptions in global oil supply, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane for crude exports from the Gulf.

Duffy stated that the administration’s larger goal is to prevent Iran from leveraging energy markets, cautioning that disruptions in the Strait could have repercussions on global supply chains and economic stability.