Interior Secretary Doug Burgum addressed rising gasoline prices on Friday, attributing regional price variations primarily to state-level policies rather than geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Speaking on Fox News, Burgum stated that "the price of gasoline varies across our whole country largely right now by state policy and state taxes, not by the underlying fundamentals." The comments came as the Iran conflict enters its 100th day, raising concerns about potential impacts on global energy markets.

Burgum specifically directed criticism toward Democratic state officials for contributing to higher gas prices through their policy decisions. He highlighted several states' regulatory approaches as factors influencing local fuel costs.

The remarks reflect ongoing political debate over energy policy and pricing amid Middle East tensions. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies, has been a focal point of concerns about potential supply disruptions.

Central banks including the Federal Reserve and Bank of England have maintained cautious stances as the Iran situation continues, with officials monitoring potential economic impacts from the prolonged conflict.

Oil industry executives have separately raised concerns about gasoline pricing trends, though specific details of their communications with the Trump administration were not immediately available.