Iranian official urges Americans to stockpile gasoline amid US fuel price pressure

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian Vice President Mehdi Reza Aref on Thursday called on Americans to stockpile gasoline and fuel, warning that the United States faces an economically painful period following what he described as new US crimes against the Iranian people. Speaking from Tehran, Aref said the US economy is entering "dark months" and argued that recent US actions have altered Iran's security calculations and defense doctrine. He said Iran's response going forward would be "unbalanced," "multi-layered" and aimed at "eliminating the aggressor's security." The United States is meanwhile grappling with rising fuel prices tied to disruptions in oil supply during the ongoing conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump on Tuesday summoned refinery executives and fuel distributors to the White House after the average US gasoline price climbed above $4 per gallon in August, a rise of nearly 30 percent from a year earlier. According to an analysis by Brown University, Americans paid an additional $51.9 billion for gasoline and $43.1 billion for diesel during the conflict period that began in late February.