Iran intensified its military campaign against Gulf energy infrastructure on Thursday, striking oil and gas facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE in retaliation for an Israeli attack on a key Iranian gas field. The strikes sent Brent crude oil — the international benchmark — surging to as high as $118 per barrel, more than 60% above pre-war levels from late February.

For Santee and East County residents already paying record prices at the pump, the escalation points toward another wave of increases at local gas stations. San Diego County gas prices had already hit $5.80 per gallon earlier this week — the highest on record for the region.

Among the hardest-hit facilities was Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG complex, the world's largest liquefied natural gas export terminal, which sustained extensive damage from Iranian missiles. Saudi Arabia's SAMREF refinery on the Red Sea, which Riyadh had been using as an alternative to the blocked Strait of Hormuz, was also struck. Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries were hit by Iranian drone attacks, and Abu Dhabi was forced to shut down its Habshan gas facility and Bab oil field.

The Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes — remains under Iranian control and pressure. Efforts to route energy shipments around the strait via Saudi Arabia's Red Sea pipeline have now also been disrupted by the Thursday strikes.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attacks as "reckless" escalation ahead of an EU summit dominated by the conflict's energy impact, and urged a ceasefire as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan comes to an end. The Arab League called the strikes a "dangerous escalation."

The White House said it was monitoring the situation and consulting with allies. President Trump, who has been seeking to boost global oil supply to offset the war's price impact, separately eased Venezuela oil sanctions on Thursday in an effort to bring more barrels to market.

For local context: every $10 increase in Brent crude translates to roughly 25 cents per gallon at U.S. gas stations over the following two to four weeks, according to energy analysts. If oil holds at current levels, Santee drivers could see prices approach or exceed $6 per gallon by early April.