¶ Overview
Randy Feenstra supported Trump’s war with Iran and later admitted that Iowans may have to “pay a little higher gas price temporarily” as families across the state continue struggling with rising costs and affordability pressures. Feenstra also acknowledged the war drove up fertilizer and fuel costs and warned the increased costs could be “catastrophic” for Iowa farmers. Despite those concerns, Feenstra voted against ending U.S. military involvement in Iran without congressional authorization.
Trump’s war with Iran triggered an increase in gas prices for Iowans, with prices rising more than 62 percent between before the conflict began on February 27th and May 18th, according to the Center for American Progress. The war also increased fuel and fertilizer costs for already struggling Iowa farmers facing falling crop prices. Iowa farmers warned rising fertilizer costs forced some producers to choose between taking on debt or risking smaller crop yields during planting season.
Experts warned the Iran war could make groceries more expensive for consumers and further strain the food supply chain, while Iowans said rising grocery and gas prices were already forcing families to cut back on spending. Economists warned rising fuel costs were already increasing grocery prices, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture more than doubled its 2026 food inflation forecast after the Iran war increased costs across the supply chain.
¶ Feenstra Supported Trump’s War In Iran
¶ Feenstra Backed Trump’s War In Iran And Repeatedly Praised Trump’s Military Actions
¶ Randy Feenstra Supported The U.S. Air Strike On Iran During “Operation Epic Fury” And Amplified Trump’s Claim That Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Had Been Killed
February 28, 2026: Randy Feenstra Praised “Operation Epic Fury” And Backed The U.S. Air Strike On Iran, Alleging The Strike Prevented Iran From Obtaining Nuclear Weapons. According to Feenstra’s Twitter, “Operation Epic Fury comes after the Trump Administration spent weeks calling for a diplomatic end to Iran’s dangerous nuclear ambitions and Iran murdered thousands of its own people who dared to protest for freedom. The leaders of Iran fund foreign terrorists in the Middle East, chant ‘Death to America,’ and threaten American lives. I agree with President Trump that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and this operation works to prevent that from happening. I pray for the safety of our servicemembers, Iowa National Guard troops in the region, and the success of the operation.”
[Twitter, @RepFeenstra, 2/28/26]
March 2026: Randy Feenstra Praised “Operation Epic Fury” And Supported The U.S. Air Strike On Iran, Calling Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions “Dangerous.” According to Radio Iowa, “Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra, who’s running for governor, called Iran’s nuclear ambitions ‘dangerous’ and he agreed with President Trump ‘that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and this operation works to prevent that from happening.’” [Radio Iowa, 3/1/26]
February 28, 2026: The U.S. Launched Strikes Against Iran And Iran Retaliated Against American Military Bases. According to the New York Times, "Feb. 28: The United States and Israel launched strikes across Iran, hitting a government compound in Tehran and military targets. The blasts killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s supreme leader for almost 37 years, as well as other high-level military and intelligence leaders. At least 175 people, most of them likely children, were killed in a strike on a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran, health officials and Iranian state media said. The strike was a targeting mistake by the U.S. military, according to U.S. officials familiar with a military investigation. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at Israel and at U.S. military bases in the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates." [New York Times, 5/2/26]
¶ Iowa Gas Prices Surged During The War In Iran
¶ May 2026: Iowans Were Paying An Average Of $4.24 Per Gallon, A More Than 62% Percent Increase From Before The Iran War Began
¶ Gas Prices In Iowa Increased To An Average Of $4.24 Per Gallon, Increasing More Than 62 Percent Since The Iran War Began
AAA: As Of May 22, 2026, Iowans Were Paying An Average Of $4.24 For Gas. According to AAA,
[AAA, Accessed 5/22/26]
¶ Before The Iran War Began, Iowans Were Paying An Average Gas Price Of $2.64
Center For American Progress: February 2026: Iowans Were Paying $2.64 For Gas, Before The Iran War Began. According to the Center for American Progress,
[Center For American Progress, 5/18/26]
¶ The Iran War Drove Up Fuel And Fertilizer Costs, Increasing Financial Pressure On Iowa Farmers
¶ The Iran War Squeezed Already Struggling Iowa Farmers With Rising Fuel And Fertilizer Costs
¶ The Iran War Increased Fuel And Fertilizer Costs While Iowa Farmers Were Already Facing Falling Crop Prices
HEADLINE: “Iran War Makes Declining Farm Economy Worse, Farmers Say” [Iowa Capital Dispatch, 5/15/26]
April 2026: Iowa Farmers Faced Skyrocketing Fuel And Fertilizer Costs During The Iran War. According to the Gazette, “Iowa farmers are grappling with increasing input prices and uncertainty in global markets during this spring’s planting season, as already high production costs are exacerbated by conflict in the Middle East. Since the U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran in late February, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, has led to skyrocketing fuel and fertilizer prices — two markets that farmers heavily rely on.” [Gazette, 4/7/26]
- Iowa State University Agricultural Economist Chad Hart Warned Rising Diesel Prices During The Iran War Increased Costs For Farmers Who Relied Heavily On Fuel And Nitrogen Production. According to the Gazette, "Iowa State University agricultural economist Chad Hart said rising fuel prices are also driving higher costs for farmers, who are heavily reliant on diesel. About 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The price of diesel, which is also used in nitrogen production, is up 43.5%, according to AAA.” [Gazette, 4/7/26]
April 2026: Iowa Farmers Faced Falling Crop Prices While Diesel And Fertilizer Costs Increased During The Iran War. According to Axios, "Crop commodity prices have fallen from pandemic-era highs, with corn dropping from near $6–$7 per bushel to the low-$4 range and soybeans from $13–$15 to around $10 per bushel. Meanwhile, fertilizers — often the single highest cost for farmers — have remained near peak levels. Diesel, used across nearly every part of farming, has surged since the start of the Iran conflict, with prices in Iowa around $4.80 per gallon, up from about $3.40 a year ago." [Axios, 4/27/26]
¶ Iowa Farmer Lance Lillibridge Warned Rising Fertilizer Costs During The Iran War Forced Farmers To Choose Between Debt And Smaller Crop Yields
April 2026: Iowa Farmer Lance Lillibridge Warned The Iran War Forced Farmers To Choose Between Taking On Debt Or Risking Smaller Crop Yields Due To Rising Fertilizer Costs. According to the Gazette, “Lance Lillibridge, of Vinton, who grows corn, soybeans and alfalfa, said farmers are having to make difficult decisions this planting season between racking up debt or risking a smaller yield by using less fertilizer. ‘Farmers are in a bad spot,’ Lillibridge said. ‘If you bought fertilizer last fall, you paid too much for it, and if you bought fertilizer now, you definitely paid way too much for it.’ [...] Since the Iran war broke out, farmers are either seeing fertilizer prices continue to spike or are facing limited access to products they already purchased, Lillibridge said. ‘A lot of farmers had pre-booked their fertilizer before the Iran conflict, but a lot hadn't either,’ he said. ‘Those farmers that hadn't are caught in a crosshair in this deal.’" [Gazette, 4/7/26]
¶ Experts Warned The Iran War Could Make Groceries More Expensive For Consumers
¶ Food Economist David Ortega Warned Rising Fuel And Fertilizer Costs During The Iran War Could Further Strain The Food Supply Chain And Reduce Crop Yields
HEADLINE: "Your Grocery Bill Could Get Even More Expensive As Fuel Prices Climb" [Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/13/26]
April 2026: Food Economist David Ortega Warned The Iran War And Rising Fuel Prices Could Increase Grocery Costs Across Wisconsin And Further Strain The Food Supply Chain. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, "David Ortega, food economist and professor at Michigan State University, said diesel fuel is critical up and down the food supply chain. [...] U.S. food prices are expected to increase again this year, as market pressures like the war in Iran squeeze the supply chain from farm to grocery store. The latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows ‘food at home’ prices are expected to increase 3.1 percent in 2026. The forecast is nearly double USDA’s projection at the start of the year. At least part of the increase in inflation is due to the conflict in the Middle East and the resulting spike in oil and gas prices." [Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/13/26]
April 2026: Food Economist David Ortega Warned Rising Fertilizer Costs During The Iran War Could Reduce Crop Yields And Further Increase Beef Prices. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, “Impacts from the war could also start to compound over time, Ortega said. For example, the increased cost of oil-derived nitrogen fertilizer could prompt farmers to apply less on their fields this season. Lower crop yields in the fall will mean less feed for livestock and could drive up the cost of beef, which already hit record highs in 2025.” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/13/26]
¶ The U.S. Department Of Agriculture More Than Doubled Its 2026 Food Inflation Forecast After The Iran War Increased Costs
The U.S. Department Of Agriculture More Than Doubled Its 2026 Food Inflation Forecast After The Iran War Drove Up Costs Across The Supply Chain. According to the Gazette, "Before the war began, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projected consumers would see prices jump only about 3% in 2026. But a report from the agency in March predicts that food prices could increase as much as 6.1% this year." [Gazette, 4/7/26]
¶ An Iowa Resident Said That “There's Pressure Basically Everywhere From The Groceries That I Buy To The Gas To Fill Up The Tank… I've Severely Cut Back On My Frill Spending"
May 2026: Grace King Of Ames, Iowa Lamented Higher Prices Saying “There's Pressure Basically Everywhere From The Groceries That I Buy To The Gas To Fill Up The Tank… I've Severely Cut Back On My Frill Spending." According to PBS, “Grace King of Ames, Iowa said that higher prices in the food aisle and at the pump are making her cut back on spending for things like clothing. The administrative assistant, 31, used to spend $200 per month on clothing, mostly on Amazon, but not anymore. 'There's pressure basically everywhere from the groceries that I buy to the gas to fill up the tank,' she said. 'I've severely cut back on my frill spending.' For example, King noted that while it's only a five-minute drive to work, she makes the trip twice a day. And if she needs to do any big shopping, that's a 40-minute drive to malls in Des Moines, Iowa." [PBS, 5/12/26]
¶ Feenstra Knew Iowa Farmers Would Suffer From Rising Gas Prices During The Iran War But Still Backed Continued U.S. Military Involvement In Iran
¶ Feenstra Admitted Trump’s War With Iran Would Increase Gas And Fertilizer Costs And Would Be “Catastrophic” For Iowa Farmers
¶ Feenstra Admitted Iowans Would Pay Higher Gas Prices During Trump’s War With Iran
April 2026: Randy Feenstra Said Americans Might Have To Pay “A Little Higher Gas Price” During Trump’s War With Iran Because It Would Create A “Safer World.” According to Feenstra on The Simon Conway Show, “I applaud President Trump. And you want to tell you something. Going around the state, I have had so many people say I am so happy what President Trump is doing. All right. I mean, they care and it's going to make us a safer world. You know, we might have to, we may have to pay a little higher gas price temporarily, but it's going to be a safer world once everything's done." [Randy Feenstra, Simon Conway Show, 4/8/26] (AUDIO)
Feenstra Warned Fertilizer Prices Could Double And Said Rising Fertilizer And Fuel Costs Would Be A "Catastrophic" For Farmers After Supporting The War In Iran, Which Contributed To Higher Input Costs
March 2026: Feenstra Warned Fertilizer Prices Could Double And Called It A “Massive Problem” For Farmers. According to Brownfield AG News, “Randy Feenstra is a Republican from Iowa. ‘Just traveling the state of Iowa, this is a grave concern. I mean fertilizer prices right now are, some (farmers) had it already booked but probably 45 percent of people do not have it booked yet, so this is going to be a massive problem because fertilizer costs are at least going to be double.’ He tells Brownfield members of Congress are working with the Trump administration to figure out solutions. [...] Otherwise Feenstra says it will be catastrophic for farmers.” [Brownfield AG News, 3/24/26]
¶ Feenstra Rejected Limits On Trump’s War Powers In Iran And Voted Against Ending U.S. Military Involvement
¶ Feenstra Rejected Limits On Trump’s War Powers In Iran And Voted Against Ending U.S. Military Involvement Without Congressional Authorization
HEADLINE: “Iowa's US House Lawmakers Reject Limits On Trump's War Powers In Iran” [Des Moines Register, 3/5/26]
March 2026: Feenstra Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran. In March 2026, Feenstra voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the concurrent resolution by a vote of 212 to 219. [House Vote 85, 3/5/26; Congressional Quarterly, 3/5/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.38]
¶ Randy Feenstra Voted Against A Resolution Directing President Trump To End U.S. Military Involvement In Iran
May 2026: Randy Feenstra Voted Against A Resolution Directing The President To End U.S. Military Involvement In Iran Without Congressional Authorization. In May 2026, Feenstra voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, "This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its government or military no later than March 30, 2026, unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted. The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself, its Armed Forces, its diplomatic facilities, or allied states from imminent attack." The vote was on passage. The House rejected the concurrent resolution by a vote of 212 to 212. [House Vote 170, 5/14/26; Congressional Quarterly, 5/14/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.75]