Americans hoping for relief at the gas pump before summer travel season may be facing a much longer wait than expected, according to a striking prediction delivered Tuesday on CNN.
During an appearance on CNN’s “The Situation Room,” CNN Business senior reporter David Goldman warned that gasoline prices may not return to pre-Iran war levels for years, citing oil market forecasts and ongoing damage to Iran’s energy infrastructure following the conflict.
“You want $3 gas again? You’re going to have to wait maybe six years,” Goldman said.
The prediction immediately caught co-host Pamela Brown off guard. Audible disbelief could be heard from off camera before she asked Goldman to clarify exactly what he meant.
“I’m sorry, did I hear you correctly? Did you say 2032?” Brown asked.
Goldman confirmed that was his assessment based on the current trajectory of oil futures markets. According to Goldman, gasoline prices in the United States are unlikely to dip below $3 per gallon unless Brent crude oil falls under $70 per barrel.
That, he argued, will not happen anytime soon.
Goldman explained that even if President Donald Trump were able to negotiate an end to the Iran war quickly, major obstacles would still remain before global oil production and transportation could stabilize enough to significantly lower prices.
Among the largest problems, Goldman said, is the damage done to Iran’s oil and energy infrastructure during the conflict.
“You need to fix your facilities, because so much of them have blown up, literally, in the war,” Goldman said.
He specifically pointed to damage involving Iran’s liquefied natural gas capabilities, including what he described as the world’s largest LNG port. According to Goldman, restoring that infrastructure alone could take roughly two years.
“That’s no joke,” he added.
Goldman also emphasized that restarting oil production itself would not happen overnight. He estimated it could take between two and four weeks just to begin bringing Iranian oil production back online after fighting ceases, with the larger rebuilding process stretching far beyond that.
Compounding the problem, Goldman said, are ongoing bottlenecks involving the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes for global energy markets.
During the segment, Goldman referenced a chart tracking Brent crude oil futures and argued the market itself is signaling a prolonged recovery timeline. Before Operation Epic Fury began in late February, Brent crude traded around $67 per barrel. By Tuesday, it had climbed to roughly $96.50 per barrel.
According to Goldman, the combination of damaged infrastructure, constrained shipping routes, and broader supply disruptions has led oil markets to project that pre-war pricing levels may not return until around 2032.
Brown appeared stunned by the timeline.
“Wow, alright,” she said as the segment concluded.
Not everyone agrees with Goldman’s bleak outlook, however.
CNN also aired footage of Trump offering a far more optimistic prediction earlier this year. Speaking in March, Trump argued energy prices would sharply decline once the conflict comes to an end.
“As soon as it’s over, you’re going to see gasoline and oil drop like a rock,” Trump said.
The stark divide between Goldman’s forecast and Trump’s confidence reflects the broader uncertainty hanging over global energy markets as the economic consequences of war continue rippling far beyond the battlefield. For everyday Americans, the debate is about more than charts and futures contracts — it is about whether families can afford road trips, commutes, and basic living costs in an economy increasingly shaped by international conflict.
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