How sheltered really is the US from the Gulf oil supply crisis?

US, despite being a net oil exporter, is still exposed to the Gulf supply shock: the article says Brent has risen nearly 50% since the war on Iran began, to above $100/bbl, while US pump prices have pushed above $4/gal for the first time since 2022. The core message is that the global oil market remains interconnected, so higher Brent is still feeding through to US households and policy expectations despite Trump’s “energy superpower” claims. The piece notes the US still imports millions of barrels per day and depends on Gulf suppliers for nearly a tenth of those imports, while many refineries are configured for heavier crude than the lighter domestic slate. It also flags spillovers into fertilizer and helium supplies, with Qatar typically providing about a third of global helium output and having halted production last month. For metals, the setup is indirectly supportive for gold via a higher inflation impulse and a broader geopolitical risk premium, but the article itself does not discuss bullion pricing, flows or positioning. Near term, traders should watch whether energy-driven inflation expectations and Middle East escalation keep safe-haven bids under gold while also pressuring real-income sentiment in the US.