Iran Conflict and Seasonal Aspects Behind Rise of Oregon, Washington Gas Prices

Published 03/05/26 at 5:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Portland, Oregon) – Some sour news for travelers in the Pacific Northwest: the conflict in the Middle East will affect gas prices, according to AAA. Exactly how much this will pump up the price at the pump is unclear, but there are also seasonal factors at play. Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection: Florence area.

Crude oil prices jumped sharply at the start of the week following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, pushing gasoline prices higher nationwide, AAA said. The combination of more expensive crude and the usual seasonal shift toward summer-blend fuel has accelerated the increase at the pump.

AAA said that the national average for regular gasoline spiked 11 cents overnight, climbing above $3 a gallon for the first time since December 1, 2025. Prices are up in all 50 states. Over the past week, the national average has increased 16 cents to $3.11 a gallon, the highest level since October 2025. Oregon’s average is up four cents to $3.95 a gallon, one of the smallest week-over-week increases in the country.

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The last comparable one-day national spike occurred in early March 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent the average price up 11 cents in 24 hours. This week’s smaller rise in Oregon and Washington follows unusually large increases last week tied to an outage on the Olympic Pipeline.

AAA Oregon/Idaho public affairs director Marie Dodds said these factors will continue to pressure prices.

“Oregon and Washington were already hit with soaring gas prices after an outage at the Olympic pipeline last month,” said Dodds. “Markets continue to digest the latest developments in the conflict with Iran, and how they will impact energy infrastructure as well as access to the Strait of Hormuz.”

In general, every $1 increase in crude oil prices adds roughly 2.4 to 2.5 cents to the price of gasoline.

About 20% of the world’s oil and refined products move through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passageway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf bordered by Iran. Tankers traveling through the strait carry oil from major Middle Eastern producers including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Iraq and Iran. Any disruption can affect global supply. While the U.S. does not rely on Iranian oil, major importers such as China and India do.

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