What Is Driving Diesel Prices Up? Energy Chaos Caused by Two Wars. NYT - Energy & Environment By: Lauren McCarthy 14 September 2026 at 20:58 President Trump recently blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries for causing a spike in diesel prices, but analysts say the Iran war is probably a bigger factor. Β© Jeff Chiu/Associated PressDiesel prices in the United States are up about 65 percent since Feb. 28, when the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran began.