UK drivers facing highest petrol prices in three years due to Iran war

WorldBusiness & Finance
19 Mar 2026 • 7:51 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • UK drivers are facing significant increases in petrol and diesel prices, reaching nearly three-year highs, driven by escalating conflict in the Middle East.
  • Oil prices have surged to $117 per barrel following Iran's attack on Qatar's liquefied natural gas facility, marking the highest level since June 2022.
  • Average prices now stand at 142.62p per litre for unleaded petrol and 162.66p for diesel, with the cost of filling a 55-litre family diesel car rising by over £11 in just over two weeks.
  • The ongoing conflict, including Iran's threat to disrupt shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, poses a significant risk to global oil and gas trade.
  • AA president Edmund King has advised motorists to reduce non-essential journeys, while Rachel Reeves has pledged to address 'price gouging' by forecourt operators and is reviewing a planned fuel duty increase.

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