White House to Americans: Rise in energy prices over Iran is temporary

High prices for gasoline are shown at a gas station in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 10, 2026. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - The American public will see oil and gas prices drop rapidly, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday, once the objectives of the joint Israeli-U.S. air war against Iran are fully achieved.

"Rest assured, to the American people, the recent increase in oil and gas prices is temporary, and this operation will result in lower gas prices in the long term," Leavitt told reporters. 

Oil prices on Monday surged to more than $119 a barrel - their highest since June 2022 - as supply cuts by Saudi Arabia and other producers stoked fears of major disruptions to global supplies.

Leavitt added that Trump and his energy team were closely watching the markets, speaking with industry leaders, and that the U.S. military was drawing up additional options in line with the president's directive to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk and Bo Erickson, Editing by Bhargav Acharya and Michelle Nichols )