Energy secretary says Iran conflict is 'temporary,' gas prices to ease

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright sought to reassure Americans on Sunday, calling the conflict with Iran a "temporary movement" rather than a "long-term war," and saying gas prices could fall "in weeks." He made the comments during morning-show appearances as energy markets reacted to the crisis.

On CBS's Face the Nation, Wright warned that "what you are seeing is emotional reactions and fear that this is a long-term war." He repeated the point on Fox News Sunday, saying, "The run-up on prices doesn't have anything to do with any shortage of barrels of oil or natural gas.

It's just fear and perception... but it won't be." The situation escalated after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28, and Iran moved quickly to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway critical to the movement of oil around the world.

United States

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