Does being a top oil-producing state protect North Dakota from gas price spikes caused by the Iran war?
No.
Ongoing conflict in the Middle East is placing a sustained strain on American drivers as volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, a passage for one-fifth of the world’s oil, continues to disrupt global supply.
While the U.S. remains a leading oil producer, with North Dakota’s Bakken region playing a critical role, domestic production does not insulate local drivers from global price swings. Because oil is a globally traded commodity, prices are dictated by international market bidding rather than local supply levels.
As a result, even when conflict remains far from U.S. soil, North Dakota drivers feel the impact at the pump.
Although North Dakota’s gas prices often trend lower than the national average, they remain tethered to the global market. As long as the maritime standoff persists, energy experts expect continued price fluctuations for residents across the state.
According to AAA, North Dakota’s gas prices were $0.57 higher on April 20, 2026 than the previous year.
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Sources
- International Energy Agency: Oil Market Report 2026
- AAA: Average Fuel Prices for North Dakota
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Global Oil Markets
- United Nations: MIDDLE EAST LIVE 20 April
- Forbes: America Produces The Most Oil. So Why Are Gas Prices Surging?
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The North Dakota News Cooperative is a nonprofit news organization providing reliable and independent reporting on issues and events that impact the lives of North Dakotans. The organization increases the public’s access to quality journalism and advances news literacy across the state.
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