US Energy Secretary says that lower gas prices will eventually lead to a resolution with Iran

Chris Wright, the U.S. Energy Secretary, said Friday that to lower?pump price it will take a solution with Iran in order to get more oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Wright made his 'comments' during an appearance at Sable Offshore, a new oil and gas facility in California near Santa Barbara. The Sable Offshore facility was restarted after President Donald Trump invoked a Cold War Defense Production Act that superseded state laws.

Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum blamed California's strict environmental policies for the sky-high gas prices in the state, which hovers around $6 per gallon.

Wright stated that the administration was prepared to 'take additional steps to lower gas prices in California,' and had 'engaged with Governor Gavin Newsom to discuss ways to help the struggling oil refineries of the state following two recent closures.

He said that the best thing to do is to rollback some of the regulations which have forced the two previous companies to close. "I have tried to engage the Governor in a dialog here to ask, Why would you sacrifice Californians without any benefit, environmental benefit, or California economic security?"

Wright responded that a deal with Iran would be necessary to bring down the soaring prices of gas for all Americans.

In an interview, he stated that the only way to lower gasoline and diesel prices is to increase oil flow through the Strait of?Hormuz. "Ultimately, that's going be a solution with?Iran."

He said that the military effort was justified in raising gas prices to eliminate Iran as a nuclear danger.

Wright stated that "we're paying extra, but we are solving a geopolitical problem, a threat to national security and a threat for the entire region," Wright added. "That's an expense that we get something in return for."

California is a state with limited regional production and a minimal connection to the Gulf Coast refinery hub. No pipelines deliver fuel from the Rocky Mountains to California.

Newsom's Office did not respond immediately to a comment request. (Reporting and editing by Nichola Grroom, Mark Porter and Aurora Ellis).

(source: Reuters)