New york: US diesel prices rose above $5 per gallon Tuesday for the first time in more than three years, as the escalating war in the Middle East deepened the shock to global oil supplies, according to a motor group.

According to Anadolu Agency, the national average price for diesel hit $5.04, up 34% from the day before the US and Israel launched a massive wave of airstrikes on Iran, according to data from the travel association AAA. This increase pushed diesel prices to their highest since December 2022, when Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine disrupted global energy markets.

Diesel is a critical fuel for the US economy, powering trucks, trains, and barges that transport goods across the country. Rising diesel costs can quickly affect freight rates and consumer prices, posing a challenge for economic stability.

Gasoline prices are also climbing sharply, with the national average already up 27% since the conflict began to $3.79, according to AAA. This marks the highest since October 2023, indicating broader impacts on energy costs.

Oil prices have surged more than 40% during the conflict. US crude was trading near $94 a barrel Tuesday, while Brent, the global benchmark, hovered around $101. The increase is largely attributed to disruptions to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil chokepoint. Before the conflict, one-fifth of global oil supplies moved through this narrow waterway.