US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the United States is not planning to target Iran’s oil, gas or wider energy infrastructure, drawing a distinction between US operations and Israeli strikes.

Speaking to CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union, Wright said: “There are no plans to target Iran’s oil industry, natural gas industry or anything about their energy industry.” He added: “These are Israeli strikes… The US is targeting zero energy infrastructure.”

Wright acknowledged the air quality impacts from strikes on fuel storage sites — after residents described conditions as “suffocating” — but argued that the hardship of “a few days of lower air quality” is minor compared with what he said Iranians have endured under their government.

Fuel prices: Wright also sought to defend the Trump administration’s record on energy costs while being pressed on recent price rises during the conflict. He said petrol and diesel prices had fallen compared with earlier periods, but accepted the administration wants pump prices below $3 a gallon again. He claimed petrol is still around $1.50 per gallon cheaper than it was at the midpoint of the Biden administration, while noting diesel has been rising faster than petrol because it was already in tighter supply.