Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said Thursday that Americans may have to tolerate higher gas prices as a consequence of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran, arguing that preventing the Iranian regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon outweighs the short-term economic pain.
Jordan made the remarks during an interview with CNN host Kasie Hunt, where he acknowledged the surge in energy prices but suggested most Americans understand the stakes involved in confronting Iran.
The Ohio Republican said Americans have the “common sense” to recognize the threat posed by Tehran’s leadership.
“To stop this regime that for 47 years has killed Americans, killed Israelis, killed others and killed a number of their own people — to stop them from getting a nuclear weapon is a worthwhile objective,” Jordan said.
While acknowledging the rising cost of fuel, Jordan said Americans would likely accept temporary economic hardship if it ultimately leads to stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“And President Trump is committed to achieving that goal, and if that means prices go up for a time, I think Americans understand, we can live with that,” Jordan continued. “But in the end, we want all that to happen, and we want it all to happen in as quick a time as it possibly can.”
Jordan also predicted the conflict would end “soon,” though he stopped short of offering a concrete timeline when pressed by Hunt.
“I don’t know for sure,” Jordan said when asked what he meant by soon. He added that Americans ultimately want several things at once: lower gas prices, preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capability, and bringing the military campaign to a swift conclusion.
Jordan is among several Republican lawmakers who, along with President Donald Trump, have downplayed concerns about rising fuel costs tied to the conflict. However, the issue is emerging as a potential political challenge ahead of the November midterm elections, where affordability concerns remain a central issue for many voters.
Some within Republican circles worry that sustained price increases could threaten the party’s hold on Congress if voters begin to feel the economic squeeze more sharply.
For his part, President Trump has repeatedly framed the military campaign as limited in scope and duration. The president has described the operation as a short “excursion” that he believes will end “very soon.”
Trump has also brushed aside concerns about rising oil prices, telling reporters he is not overly worried about the economic impact.
“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social.
Despite that optimism, the global energy market has been rattled by the escalating conflict. The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow passage in the Middle East through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply moves — has effectively been shut down, disrupting shipping and pushing prices upward.
Economists have begun warning that if the situation drags on, the ripple effects could extend beyond the gas pump and potentially slow the broader economy.
Rising prices also do not affect all Americans equally. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, previously noted that wealthier households tend to absorb higher fuel costs more easily than those living paycheck to paycheck.
“For upper-income families, it is a small price to pay,” Wolfe told The Hill. “It’s a very small part of their budget. For lower-income families, it’s significant. It makes a real difference in their ability to buy food, to buy medicine, to pay rent.”
The national average price for gasoline reached $3.63 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA. Just one month earlier, the national average was $2.94.
Oil markets reflect the same upward pressure. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, is trading at just over $93 per barrel, while Brent crude — the international benchmark — is near $99 per barrel. Before the conflict began, those prices stood significantly lower at about $67 and $73 per barrel, respectively.
For many Americans, the numbers serve as a reminder that wars abroad often carry consequences at home, even when leaders promise the conflict will be brief.
