With international crude prices climbing beyond 100 dollars per barrel amid the Iran conflict, President Donald Trump is preparing to examine a set of emergency interventions aimed at containing fuel costs and calming volatility in global energy markets.
Sources familiar with internal deliberations said White House officials have assembled multiple policy options to address the price surge, which has intensified concerns about financial pressure on American households and businesses as the country approaches the November midterm elections.
One of the key measures under consideration involves a coordinated release of crude oil from strategic petroleum reserves by Group of Seven nations. US officials have reportedly been consulting counterparts in other major economies to assess whether a collective supply injection could ease pressure on international markets.
Additional proposals being reviewed include limiting US crude exports, intervening in oil futures trading, temporarily waiving certain federal fuel taxes, and suspending provisions of the Jones Act, which requires that cargo transported between US ports be carried on American-flagged ships.
These discussions follow a sharp escalation in oil prices that briefly pushed global benchmarks to around 119 dollars per barrel, levels last seen in 2022. Fuel costs have risen steadily since the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran in late February.
The White House said it is closely tracking market movements and coordinating with relevant agencies. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated that energy stability remains a top presidential priority and that the administration is evaluating all credible measures to prevent further disruption.
Market analysts attribute much of the price spike to instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical maritime corridor between Iran and Oman that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. Ongoing hostilities have heightened risks to tanker movement through the passage, tightening supply expectations worldwide.
Officials cautioned that many available policy tools may have only limited influence as long as geopolitical tensions continue to threaten shipping routes. Some sources involved in the discussions described the options as ranging from modestly helpful to largely symbolic.
Rising energy costs carry significant political implications for the administration. Trump has consistently highlighted affordable fuel as a cornerstone of his economic agenda, and sustained increases in oil and gasoline prices could ripple across transportation, logistics and consumer markets.
The administration has also examined the possibility of naval escorts and insurance support for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. However, these steps have not yet produced a meaningful rise in shipping activity through the region.
Senior advisers, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and policy aide Stephen Miller, are participating in ongoing strategy discussions as the White House evaluates next steps to stabilise energy markets.
