War in Iran causing steep hike in Arizona gas prices

Gas prices have surged more than 50 cents since the start of the war in Iran. AAA said the war in Iran is affecting crude oil prices, which are now trading at more than $100 per barrel at the time of recording.

The national average price of regular gasoline stands at $3.57 as of Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The Arizona average stands at $4.17 per gallon.

This makes Arizona now one of the most expensive states in the country to fill up, topping the national average by nearly 60 cents. The transition to summer-blend gasoline, which is required in spring, is contributing to the spike.

John Treanor, Spokesperson for AAA Mountain West Group, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss how the combination of annual trends and unexpected actions is impacting people at the pump.

“Arizona is not alone, this is something we’ve felt across the country,” Treanor said, “…Arizona is one of those states that is feeling the increase in pricing that really is directly related to the increase in oil.”

According to Treanor, most of what we are seeing today is related to the price of crude oil, which has gone up exponentially since the first attacks in Iran. Not only the war in Iran, but also what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz, and the uncertainty with supplies, as roughly 1/5th of the world’s oil flows through.

“Oil is a global commodity…so when we talk about oil prices, we talk about futures,” Treanor explained, “…the major ingredient for gas is oil, and if that ingredient is significantly more expensive, the gas is going to be more expensive as well.”

Treanor explained that if individuals want to conserve their gas, they should try to carpool, make fewer trips with their car, and use a trusted app to look for lower prices. He mentioned that people should not idle their cars as well.