Petrol fears are causing queues of people emptying pumps as UK fuel costs are bracing for an 'inevitable squeeze'

15:19, Tue, Mar 3, 2026 Updated: 15:21, Tue, Mar 3, 2026

Petrol prices are set to be affected by the conflict in Iran

Petrol prices are set to be affected by the conflict in Iran (Image: SWNS)

Drivers have been warned that rising global oil prices could push up fuel costs in the UK. Scenes across the country are already seeing petrol station pumps run low following more conflict escalating in Iran.

The US and Israel launched widespread strikes on Saturday, February 28, targeting Iran's missile infrastructure, military sites and senior leaders. Conflict has spread across the Middle East after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed during these strikes.

Though conflict is happening thousands of miles away, the consequences could "inevitably" be felt by British pockets, experts have claimed. Disruption to tanker traffic in the Middle East has sparked a rise in oil prices, which will have a significant effect on wholesale fuel prices.

AA president Edmund King said much of the increase in oil prices since the start of the war was “being factored in by market traders” in advance. Despite stressing that there was "no need for drivers to break their refuelling routine", scenes have been captured across the UK of drivers running forecourts dry.

Pump prices at UK forecourts had already been increasing slightly in recent days to better reflect wholesale prices. Mr King predicted that petrol prices could return to levels last seen at the start of 2026, when a litre of petrol was an average of 135.7p, compared with as low as 131.9p last month.

Particularly long queues have been reported at Costco in Oldham, Greater Manchester, and at Tesco in South Queensferry, Scotland, which ran out of unleaded. The queues come after oil prices surged by 13 per cent on Monday amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “While the conflict in the Middle East undoubtedly has the potential to push up pump prices in the UK, it’s not a certainty. The oil price would have to rise significantly and stay that way for some time to have a dramatic effect.”

People can track the cheapest petrol prices using the free RAC 'Fuel Watch' tracker. It compares big brands like Asda, Costco, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons as well as many other smaller brands so drivers know the true cheapest optin when they need to refuel.

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People in parts of the UK are queueing up to refuel their cars

People in parts of the UK are queueing up to refuel their cars (Image: SWNS)

The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said that the Government is "monitoring the situation closely". They added: "The UK benefits from strong and diverse security of energy supplies.

"The Energy Secretary (Ed Miliband) spoke to the executive director of the International Energy Agency (Dr Fatih Birol) over the weekend. There are currently no reported impacts to UK fuel supply. DESNZ (the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) will continue to monitor UK fuel stocks and sales."

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