I feel as though all I hear these days are people complaining about gas prices. However, to me, it seems almost no one is asking why those prices are escalating in the first place. 

The answer has less to do with living in California and far more to do with global conflict. 

It may seem tedious to dive into the reasoning behind something as monotonous as the number glaring at us by the gas pump, but what is happening behind the scenes matters far more than most realize. What seems like a distant geopolitical conflict is a direct financial issue that directly impacts your gas bill, grocery costs and day to day activities as a college student. 

At the heart of this issue is the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran. This heated conflict between countries is hitting much closer to home. Americans are already spending hundreds of dollars more on gas per month as prices continue to jump due to escalated tensions. Furthermore, ships have slowed through the Strait, oil flow has dropped, and the shortage in supply has sparked a rapid increase in prices. Hitting our wallets like a train. It is simple economics! The chaos unraveling halfway across the world has a direct hit on the number we hate to see glaring right at us at the gas station. 

Looking at a KPBS article, some other reasons contributing to rising gas prices in California include refinery shutdowns reducing supply, limited ability to offset supply shocks, and import challenges due to California facing an intense shortage of gasoline.  

This is where the topic of geopolitics becomes extremely personal. 

To ignite this conversation, I thought it would be helpful to discuss the pinpoint of this topic: the Strait of Hormuz. I think many Americans would fail to identify where this is on a map, yet it is one of the most critical passageways for global oil. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply flows through this narrow strait between Oman and Iran, thus making it one of the most consequential geographic checkpoints in global trade. 

What is currently happening in this strip of water halfway around the world determines whether you can make that girls trip this weekend or spend the extra mileage going to the beach. 

April 7, 2026, Trump threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran obeyed to Trump’s deal before his deadline. However, shortly after his blatant statement on April 8, Trump agreed to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks. Allowing them to reopen the Straight in that time period. Iran agreed to allow safe passage through the Strait for two weeks only if coordinated with Iranian armed forces. Iran agreed to limit the number of ships crossing the Strait to around a dozen a day and charge tolls under the cease-fire by Trump, tightening the grip on the world’s most vital energy shipping highway. 

Coldly used as leverage in Iran’s retaliation against the United States and Israel, the strait has become a strategic pressure point as the countries continue butting heads. With global oil supply stuck in the middle, shortages and higher prices worldwide are the result. 

As tensions continue to escalate, tanker traffic has dropped dramatically from roughly 100 ships per day down to 20-30 ships traveling through. 

According to NPR, gas prices have surged in direct response to the international conflict, with some states, such as California and Wyoming, facing another level of appalling gas prices. Higher gas prices directly impact transportation costs, prices of food, goods and everyday essentials. 

As for SDSU students, this is not an abstract concept. It shows up when you hesitate before driving to campus or in your rising grocery bills and more costly nights out. 

So how can us as students navigate this financial predicament?

While we have no direct control over global conflict or oil supply, our response to the financial impact is in our control, thus we should be proactive and maneuver through this situation the best we can. 

Being mindful of spending becomes more important during times like this. Whether that means consolidating trips to campus, carpooling with friends or intentionally creating a more strict budget. Overall, become more aware of where your money is going. When prices rise across the board, small decisions matter more than you think. Budgeting, even at the most basic level, can help students stay on top of their finances and feel more in control. More importantly, understanding the why allows us to make smarter financial decisions rather than reacting out of frustration. This situation may sometimes feel like it is all out of our control, but awareness is a great first step towards navigating it.

Understanding the “why” doesn’t make the price lower, but it makes you more aware of the world you’re living in. Which is what matters if we want to work towards a better future.