Fuel prices in Spain have jumped sharply since the start of the Middle East war, with diesel climbing more than 20% and unleaded petrol also rising significantly.

MADRID: Fuel prices at Spanish pumps have risen sharply since the start of the Middle East war, with diesel climbing more than 20%, according to government data released on Tuesday.

The average price of standard diesel increased from €1.435 per litre on February 27, the day before the war began, to €1.759 per litre on Monday, representing a 22.6% rise based on figures from the ecological transition ministry.

Prices for unleaded gasoline also surged from €1.525 per litre on February 27 to €1.71 per litre on Monday, marking a 12.1% increase according to the ministry’s data, which is based on average prices across the country’s service stations.

The United States and Israel began striking Iran on February 28, prompting a storm of retaliatory Iranian strikes across the oil-rich Gulf region.

After spiking over recent days, oil prices fell sharply on Tuesday following comments from US President Donald Trump, who said the conflict with Iran would “end soon” and indicated plans to lift some sanctions on Iranian oil.

Spain imports most of its crude oil from the Americas and Africa, as it has virtually no domestic reserves of its own.

Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo told reporters on Monday that the Spanish government would protect citizens, businesses and workers as it did during the Ukraine war.

“We clearly know what measures can be implemented and we will put them on the table depending on how the situation develops,” he added in remarks shared on his X account.

 The Sun Malaysia