How the Iran war is impacting Illinoisans at the gas pump
Gas prices are displayed at a gas station in Morton Grove, Ill, Thursday, May 14, 2026. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Illinois drivers are paying more than five dollars a gallon for gas this week — among the highest prices in the country. The immediate cause is war in the Middle East: a U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began in early March. Iran, although militarily degraded, has effectively shut down shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical chokepoint for global energy supply.
An energy and geopolitical expert explains how the conflict is impacting Illinoisans economically.
GUEST
Rachel Bronson. Ph.D.
Lester Crown Nonresident Senior Fellow for Energy and Geopolitics, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Senior Advisor, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
