Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday thatachieving U.S. objectivesof preventing a nuclear-armed Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz is "taking a little bit longer and that's going to play out over the next several weeks," but projected gas prices would come down as soon as the strait opens.
Again, we're now navigating the safety through the Strait of Hormuz and also trying to navigate the -- the nuclear material that Iran has and that's taking a little bit longer and that's going to play out over the next several weeks," Duffy told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz. "You're going to start to see immediate relief once the strait opens and supply flows again."
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent fuel costs soaring -- up nearly 40 cents from last week's average of $4.05, according to GasBuddy -- on top of the already high prices. The average price per gallon has risen about $1.50 since the start of the war on Feb. 28.
According to aABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos pollreleased Friday, Americans have increasingly pessimistic views about their own economic situation and high gas prices: 44% of respondents said they have cut back on driving because of high gas prices, and roughly a third said they had changed travel or vacation plans.
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When presented with the poll's findings, Duffy said that President Donald Trump's energy policy means the U.S. is not threatened with any risk of fuel shortages like some other countries may be, even while confronted with high costs.
"That point is why the president has focused so hard on energy pricing and American energy dominance," Duffy said. "The president has leaned into American energy dominance, and yes, we have seen an increase in pricing."
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Duffy also pointed to Trump's signature tax and spending bill, which led to larger tax refunds for some Americans this tax season. But in anABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos pollreleased Sunday, Americans' approval of Trump's handling of taxes -- 38% approve, 61% disapprove -- was nearly identical to his overall approval rating -- 37% approve, 62% disapprove.
Still, Duffy suggested that high gas prices are the cost to pay for prohibiting Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon -- one of the president's main objectives for attacking Iran in the first place.
"Energy prices have come up. You're right. And again, you have to look at the president to say, what does a leader do? What does a president do when he sees a potential nuclear Iran? He's not going to tolerate it," Duffy said.
The increase in fuel costs does not just affect consumers at the pump. Airlines have been forced to raise fares and additional fees as they are increasingly pressured by the cost of jet fuel.
Though not a direct result of the higher fuel costs, budget carrierSpirit Airlines ceased operationscompletely early Saturday morning. The airline had declared bankruptcy multiple times and had struggled financially for years.
Duffy again blamed the Joe Biden administration Sunday for Spirit's failures, saying his Justice Department sued to block a merger between Spirit and JetBlue.
"Spirit tried to merge with JetBlue, the Joe Biden-Pete Buttigieg administration and DOJ tanked that deal. Immediately after that, they filed for bankruptcy," Duffy said.
After Biden's Justice Department sued, a federal judge agreed with the claim that Spirit and JetBlue would raise costs for American consumers and violate antitrust law and blocked the merger.
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