Iran Deal Hopes Rise as Gas Prices Hover; GOP Faces Late-Arriving Relief

Republicans are hopeful that a potential Iran deal to end the war could ease pump prices toward prewar levels, but they’re divided on whether the relief will arrive in time for the midterms. Gas prices have fallen from a Memorial Day peak to around $4 a gallon, with an open Strait of Hormuz potentially accelerating relief, though deliveries remain disrupted and the process could take months. Some GOP voices argue Trump’s economic record and a strong message on affordability could help, while Democrats say voter pessimism about the economy is durable and unlikely to be erased quickly, regardless of the deal. Uncertainty remains about the deal’s terms, Iran’s nuclear commitments, Hormuz tolls, and regional dynamics like Israel’s Lebanon posture, all of which could keep energy markets volatile through the fall.