Vice President JD Vance says he wouldn't call the conflict with Iran a war and provides more details on the latest tensions with Tehran. CBS News' Aaron MacLean has more.
Page F3From§Eachthe matinee edition — 4 September 2026
Diesel price hits record as senator says Iran war won't matter
As it ran on the front
If you’ve filled up lately, you know the price of diesel is climbing: CBS News notes it’s hit a record high. That’s a line item in every budget from school buses to groceries. Ohio Senator Vance, meanwhile, assures the public he won’t call the Iran conflict a war, and downplays its impact on markets. A curious stance, given that war—real or threatened—has a way of showing up in commodity charts, and diesel is Exhibit A.
The senator’s position is that setting 'artificial timelines' for the Iran conflict would be irresponsible, and he wouldn’t call it a war. The implication is: don’t worry, the situation is under control, and whatever’s happening overseas won’t affect you here. But the price at the pump disagrees. When the average diesel price sets a record, that’s not a theoretical impact. That’s a line on every invoice, every delivery, every commute.…
…(cont) You can check the receipts: the energy desk’s tally shows the U.S. diesel price reaching new highs. The senator, for his part, maintains that it’s not the war’s fault—or at least, not a war he wants to name. Either way, the invoice lands the same. The only artificial thing here is the distance between the conflict and the cash register. Hon, no matter what you call it, the pump keeps the books.
“They're gouging us at the pump and telling us it's just a coincidence the war doesn't count. Who gets to say what hits your wallet—politicians, or the receipt from the gas station?”
“It's important not to exaggerate the impact of foreign conflicts on our energy prices. Of course, prices are high, but that's due to market forces, not policy decisions. Or, wait—did I say 'not policy decisions'? I meant, we always support affordable energy for Americans.”
The receipts
Vance says gas prices could have been "much higher were it not for our efforts," as the Iran war pushes pump prices to expected Labor Day weekend records.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.