Washington drivers are getting hit from two directions at the gas pump, and there is no relief in sight. The Iran war is sending prices surging nationwide, but Washington drivers are paying nearly $1.21 more per gallon than the average American, and experts say the state’s Climate Commitment Act is a big reason why.
The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline in Washington has reached $5.06, second only to California in the nation, according to AAA. Seattle’s average is even higher at $5.22 a gallon. The national average sits at $3.85.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, told “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio that prices have surged roughly 80 cents a gallon in Washington in the last month alone, driven by the conflict in Iran and a series of compounding factors hitting the West Coast particularly hard.
Iran war sends diesel prices to record highs
The biggest driver of rising gas prices in 2026 is the war in Iran and the threat to oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. De Haan said the blockage is affecting roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day, creating a massive supply imbalance that is pushing prices higher globally.
Diesel has been hit even harder. Washington’s diesel average has reached $6.05 a gallon. De Haan said the 14-day increase in diesel prices has now set a record, surpassing even the spike that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
https://mynorthwest.com/local/wa-gas-prices-surge-iran-war/4218213
Meanwhile in Europe:
Enjoy the summer, because it will be an expensive winter. pic.twitter.com/Lx79sjsmcs
— Ralph Schoellhammer (@Raphfel) March 18, 2026