LIVE IN SANTA CRUZ — IM JD — KSBW AN8. ### THANKS JAZMON. # THE WAR IN IRAN HAS LED TO A 10-WEEK CLOSURE OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ…. THIS HAS CAUSED UNCERTAINTY OVER OIL SHIPMENTS TO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH HERE IN CALIFORNIA. THE PORT RECEIVED ITS LAST BATCH OF PRE-WAR OIL EARLIER THIS MONTH… AND EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE UNSURE WHEN THE NEXT SHIPMENT WILL COME.### <0:35 “APPROXIMATELY 20% OF ALL THE OIL THAT ARRIVES INTO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH COMES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.” 0:39 BUTT TO 0:43 “IT SHOWS YOU HOW THE VOYAGE WAS EXTENDED AND HOW IMPORTANT OIL FROM THE MIDDLE EAST CONTINUES TO BE, NOT JUST FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BUT FOR THE UNITED STATES.”0:54> THIS BLOCKADE IS CAUSING GAS PRICES TO GO UP… RIGHT NOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR GAS IS AT 4-52 A GALLON… CALIFORNIA’S AVERAGE IS HIGHER… SITTING AT 6-14… MONTEREY COUNTY…6-3
California receives last of pre-war oil as Hormuz closure fuels gas price fears
Updated: 5:50 PM PDT May 15, 2026
The 10-week closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war in Iran has disrupted oil shipments to the Port of Long Beach, creating uncertainty about future deliveries and driving up gas prices. The port received its last batch of pre-war oil earlier this month, and experts say they are unsure when the next shipment will arrive. “Approximately 20% of all the oil that arrives into the port of Long Beach comes from the Middle East,” an expert said. “It shows you how the voyage was extended and how important oil from the Middle East continues to be, not just for the state of California, but for the United States.” The blockade has caused gas prices to rise, with the national average now at $4.52 per gallon. California’s average is higher, sitting at $6.14 per gallon. Monterey County’s average price is $6.30, while San Benito County is at $6.36, and Santa Cruz County is at $6.26.
LONG BEACH, Calif. —
The 10-week closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war in Iran has disrupted oil shipments to the Port of Long Beach, creating uncertainty about future deliveries and driving up gas prices.
The port received its last batch of pre-war oil earlier this month, and experts say they are unsure when the next shipment will arrive.
“Approximately 20% of all the oil that arrives into the port of Long Beach comes from the Middle East,” an expert said. “It shows you how the voyage was extended and how important oil from the Middle East continues to be, not just for the state of California, but for the United States.”
The blockade has caused gas prices to rise, with the national average now at $4.52 per gallon. California’s average is higher, sitting at $6.14 per gallon. Monterey County’s average price is $6.30, while San Benito County is at $6.36, and Santa Cruz County is at $6.26.