Operation Epic Fury Increases U.S. Gas Prices and Influences Voters

The military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, launched by Donald Trump against Iran on February 28, 2026, has led to a significant increase in domestic fuel prices. According to Brown University's Iran War Energy Cost Tracker, American consumers have paid an estimated $61.8 billion in additional fuel costs since the start of the conflict. Individual accounts echo this trend, with reports of prices rising from $2.347 per gallon in January to an average of $3.463 per gallon over a four-month period.

Public sentiment reflects this economic impact, as a Noble Predictive Insights poll for The Center Square found that 66% of American voters believe gas and fuel prices will influence their vote in the November elections. Approximately 49% of registered voters specifically attribute these elevated costs to the conflict with Iran.

The Government of the United States maintains that the operation was necessary to prevent the development of nuclear weapons. White House officials assert that the president predicted these temporary market disruptions and that prices will decline once the situation is resolved. Conversely, the American Petroleum Institute suggests that energy prices are driven by broader global supply and demand dynamics and geopolitical events.