Even if the Iran conflict ends now, don't expect a quick return to pre-war gas prices, according to researchers and analysts. This is the most direct and visible economic effect of the war, which could affect midterms elections. Energy Secretary Chris Wright predicted that gas might not drop to prewar level until next year, while President Trump saw a faster drop. S&P Global has modeled three near-term price outlooks, including that of the Strait of Hormuz, indicating that even in the most optimistic scenario, flows through Hormz recover quickly with no restrictions, U.S. retail gasoline prices are likely to face an uphill battle to return to their pre-conflict levels until 2027. The Iran war remains unpredictable and could lead to more spikes in the country.