Trump vows to step up Iran bombing, as gas price surge worsens
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President Trump exits Air Force One. Photo: Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
President Trump threatened early Saturday morning to step up the bombing campaign in Iran, saying it may expand to people and regions that hadn't been targeted previously.
Why it matters: The war is entering its second week, with no let-up in sight.
- The domestic impacts, meanwhile, are compounding — especially the surge in energy prices that threatens to complicate Trump's affordability agenda.
What they're saying: "Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time," the president said in a Truth Social post just after 6 a.m. ET Saturday.
- Trump also said Iran had promised to cease any further strikes against neighboring countries. That was an apparent reference to an overnight video broadcast from Iran's president, ordering the country's armed forces not to attack neighbors unless struck first.
The intrigue: The war's impacts are already being felt clearly at home, with a historic spike in energy prices that could add up to tens of billions of dollars in higher consumer and business fuel costs.
- Retail gasoline prices rose another 9 cents Friday, per AAA, and are up 43 cents in the last week, to the highest levels since late 2024. The national average a week ago is roughly the national low today.
- Diesel prices have risen even faster — an all-time record surge of 22.3 cents just on Friday, per GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan. The crucial trucking fuel is now up more than 71 cents in just the last week.
By the numbers: Both of those will add up in different ways.
- Consumers will spend an extra $175 million a day at the pump versus a week ago, De Haan said.
- The problem for commercial drivers and their customers is as bad or worse. Truckers commonly add fuel surcharges when diesel prices rise; at current levels, some will charge more than $600 extra per 1,000 miles driven.
For the record: The administration insists it's taking measures that will get energy prices in check quickly.
- "President Trump's entire energy team, from the White House to the National Energy Dominance Council to Secretaries Wright and Bessent, have a game plan to keep oil prices stable throughout Operation Epic Fury," press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Friday night.
The bottom line: The war isn't stopping — and neither, for now, is the surge in gas prices either.
Ben Geman contributed reporting to this story.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with industry background and White House comment.
