As the Iran war drags on and gas prices hit their highest level in four years<\/a>, the White House confirmed that President Donald Trump and some of his top administration officials met Tuesday with oil and gas executives.<\/p>\n According to a White House official, executives discussed many topics, including “steps we could take to continue the current blockade for months if needed and minimize impact on American consumers.”<\/p>\n Trump has repeatedly said he would not end the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz until the Iranian regime agrees on a peace proposal that addresses their nuclear capabilities.<\/p>\n The president told Axios on Wednesday that he rejected an offer from Iran that would end the naval blockade without a nuclear agreement.<\/p>\n The stalemate in negotiations comes as Trump canceled a second round of talks in Pakistan this past weekend, saying he didn’t “see the point” of sending his top negotiators, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the war’s significant impacts on the global economy continue.<\/p>\n Americans are now paying on average $4.23 a gallon for gas. That’s up $1.29 — or 44% — since the start of the war. These prices are also the highest they’ve been since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n President Donald Trump listens during an event on health care affordability in the Oval Office at the White House, April 23, 2026, in Washington.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The meeting of oil executives at the White House on Tuesday, first reported by Axios, was hosted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Attendees included Vice President JD Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.<\/p>\n During the meeting, executives discussed other topics including domestic production, progress in Venezuela, oil futures, natural gas, and shipping, according to a White House official.<\/p>\n The official also claimed the executives “said the president is doing all the right things right now” including his move earlier this month to invoke wartime authority under the Defense Production Act to try to push for more oil and gas and extending a Jones Act waiver for 90 days to allow foreign-flagged ships to transport goods between U.S. ports.<\/p>\n The White House downplayed the meeting as routine and stressed it was a positive discussion, saying Trump “meets with energy executives frequently” to get their feedback on domestic and international energy markets.\u00a0<\/p>\n Just last week, President Trump seemed to brush off concerns about rising gas prices, telling a reporter in the Oval Office on April 23 that Americans should anticipate higher prices “for a little while.”<\/p>\n A customer pumps gasoline at a Chevron gas station, April 28, 2026, in Miami.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Marta Lavandier\/AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n But higher costs come with political risk for the president, particularly as Republicans aim to hold on to their narrow majorities in Congress in the November elections.<\/p>\n![\"Congress\"](\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/dc61e256-87c9-4e77-af35-524599e9d275\/donald-trump-2-ap-gmh-260423_1776975158957_hpMain.jpg?w=375 "\\"Congress\\"")
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