California Warns of Fuel Supply Uncertainty After Last Middle East Oil Tanker Arrives

California received what was described as its final oil tanker shipment from the Middle East this week, raising questions about the state’s longer-term fuel supply as gasoline prices climb.

The vessel, the New Corolla, delivered about 2 million barrels of crude oil, according to a report cited Sunday. The arrival comes as gasoline prices in California have risen above $6 per gallon in some areas.

Siva Gunda, vice-chair of the California Energy Commission, told legislators on Tuesday that the state has enough fuel to meet demand for the next six weeks. Officials said supply has not yet been severely affected because oil that was already in transit continued to arrive asourceser the Strait of Hormuz—a key route for oil shipments—was closed. However, the halt in new shipments from the Middle East has introduced uncertainty about supply beyond the near term.

The supply concerns are unfolding alongside heightened geopolitical tensions. The United States has issued an ultimatum to Iran related to a peace deal, and US Central Command reported firing on an Iranian-flagged oil tanker that it said was attempting to breach a US blockade.

Separately, reports said negotiations between Washington and Tehran were close to a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict, though officials described talks as difficult.