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Energy Secretary Chris Wright is telling the American people not to worry about the possibility of another increase in the price of fuel as tensions with Iran have escalated again.
Asked whether Americans should be concerned about higher prices at the tap and how the Trump administration is preparing to keep the economy stable if the conflict worsens, Wright told Fox News Digital: “It wasn’t any good behavior from Iran that allowed the oil to flow. It was the United States military.”
“That doesn’t change,” he affirmed, speaking at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall this week.
US RETURNS KEY SANCTIONS TO IRAN AFTER NEW ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL VESSELS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ
(Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
As Iran attacked three commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, Wright doubled down on urging citizens not to blame Iran for the US military’s role in ensuring that oil shipments continue to flow through the crisis.
“Look, the American Army has been the most important here,” he said. “They ensured the flow of oil and gas in the Strait of Hormuz everywhere. Not at the beginning of this conflict, but in the last six weeks.”
Wright said the administration is closely monitoring global oil flows as it appears the end of the conflict with Iran is near, with President Donald Trump telling Secretary-General Mark Rutte that the invitation to peace with Iran is “over” at a NATO summit in Turkey on Wednesday.
But, he pointed to continued shipping through the Strait as evidence that markets should remain stable.
TRUMP SAYS IRAN CEASEFIRE ‘OVER’ AFTER IRANIAN ATTACK TRIGGER MASSIVE US RESPONSE
President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Tuesday, April 22. (AP/Alex Brandon)
“Of course we’re always looking at the supply of oil, the supply of refined products and what’s going on there,” Wright said. “And I think it’s still a good trend.”
Aside from national concerns, Wright also touted a new chain of discount gas stations across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Freedom Fuel, promising customers lower prices than the national average.
The Trump administration, while not involved with the network, has largely approved the new series and its 25 locations.
“We love it,” Wright said when asked about Freedom Fuel. “I mean, look, any way we can do to lower energy costs for Americans of all stripes, we’re all for it.”
“With Freedom Fuels, they just lower the price of the fuel,” Wright said. “So they don’t make money by selling fuel, but they have shops that sell food. That’s how many garages make money.”
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Gasoline costs are a well-known problem for many Americans, and among the rising prices there has been a large increase in those who choose to buy electric cars to save money in the long term at the pump – as Tesla dominates the market for these types of models.
Wright said one of the benefits of living in America is having the option to choose the type of car you drive.
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“We just want people to buy what they want,” he told Fox News Digital when asked about his thoughts on the expansion of support calls for electric vehicles. “Consumer choice – you want to buy an electric car, you want to buy a gas car, a diesel car, you want to buy a big truck. That’s the choice.”
“That’s why you live in America. You get to choose from all of them.”
