[VIDEO] In April, Marques Promised Alabamians That The War In Iran Would "Quickly Come To Fruition Here Shortly.” According to Rhett Marques at a candidate forum, “MODERATOR: Our next question will start with Jerry Carl, and we are asking your thoughts on the current U.S. Iran conflict. Specifically, do you think limits should be placed on a President's ability to sustain such a military operation without congressional approval? […] MARQUES: Thank you. You know, there is a clear path that President Trump has put us on, and that is to remove an evil regime that has been a disruptive force in the Middle East for 47 years. Calling death to America, death to Israel, and we cannot allow them under any circumstance to have a nuclear weapon, much less ballistic missiles. We didn't even know they had ballistic missiles until they fired one 2500 miles into the Indian Ocean at our base. So we need to make sure that we remove this regime. It is on the path that it will be quickly, and I agree that I think it will be quickly come to fruition here shortly. But we cannot have a regime that allows giving money to Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and causing us and our allies damage. We have got to remove them. And we got to do it now. And it has taken eight presidents to do it, and I applaud President Trump for taking the initiative and to focus, and getting it taken care of. Now, I think we all should be praying right now for the military men and women who are in harm's way. I think that is important. I think we need to make sure that we pray for them each day, that we, I pray that no, no more get hurt. But we have got to remove this evil regime. We've got to make sure that they do not have a nuclear missile.” [Candidate Forum, 4/1/26]
[VIDEO] Marques Said Iran Was “An Evil Regime” And Said He Applauded President Trump For “Taking The Initiative” And “Getting It Taken Care Of.” According to Rhett Marques at a candidate forum, “MODERATOR: Our next question will start with Jerry Carl, and we are asking your thoughts on the current U.S. Iran conflict. Specifically, do you think limits should be placed on a President's ability to sustain such a military operation without congressional approval? […] MARQUES: Thank you. You know, there is a clear path that President Trump has put us on, and that is to remove an evil regime that has been a disruptive force in the Middle East for 47 years. Calling death to America, death to Israel, and we cannot allow them under any circumstance to have a nuclear weapon, much less ballistic missiles. We didn't even know they had ballistic missiles until they fired one 2500 miles into the Indian Ocean at our base. So we need to make sure that we remove this regime. It is on the path that it will be quickly, and I agree that I think it will be quickly come to fruition here shortly. But we cannot have a regime that allows giving money to Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and causing us and our allies damage. We have got to remove them. And we got to do it now. And it has taken eight presidents to do it, and I applaud President Trump for taking the initiative and to focus, and getting it taken care of. Now, I think we all should be praying right now for the military men and women who are in harm's way. I think that is important. I think we need to make sure that we pray for them each day, that we, I pray that no, no more get hurt. But we have got to remove this evil regime. We've got to make sure that they do not have a nuclear missile.” [Candidate Forum, 4/1/26]
[VIDEO] When Discussing The Iran War, Marques Said “Obviously, I Don't Think Any Of Us Up Here Or The President Wants Boots On The Ground, But We Cannot Allow Them To Have A Nuclear Weapon.” According to Rhett Marques at a candidate forum, “MODERATOR: Our next question, we'll start with Rhett. And what are your thoughts on the war in Iran? MARQUES: Well, number one, we all want it over, obviously, but we cannot allow an Iran with a nuclear weapon. That's just not acceptable. We cannot have it. They are the head of the snake. Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis have been killing Americans, as has the Iranians for the last 47 years. We have to end that regime. Obviously, I don't think any of us up here or the president wants boots on the ground, but we cannot allow them to have a nuclear weapon. That's unacceptable. And once this is over, you'll see fuel prices come down, you'll have peace in the Middle East, and you'll have a safer Israel. Israel is our biggest ally in the world and we need to protect them. But we cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” [Candidate Forum, 7/28/26]
As Of June 2026, The War In Iran Cost U.S. Families $100 Billion So Far. According to Fortune, "$750 a household—or $100 billion. This is the cost that Moody’s has calculated the Iran War has been so far to the U.S. consumer. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said the cost passed on to households is the result of increased military spending and higher prices as a result of oil supply disruption out of the Middle East. Since the U.S. and Israel launched action against Iran—setting off a domino-effect of attacks across the Middle East—brent crude has topped $110 a barrel on multiple occasions." [Fortune, 6/2/26]
July 2026: Prices For Fresh Food, School Supplies, And Any Goods That Required Shipment Were Expected To Increase Amid Energy Price Increases Due To The United States’ War With Iran. According to PBS, “Already feeling pinched since the start of the Iran war, consumers are likely to feel more pain ahead as oil prices pushed past $100 a barrel Thursday amid renewed fighting and military strikes that have left global oil supplies stranded in the Middle East. The elevated price marked a turn from lower oil prices enjoyed briefly when hostilities between the U.S. and Iran waned in June. Brent crude, the international standard, last reached $100 a barrel in May. Companies that produce and sell fresh food, school supplies and anything that gets shipped using fuel reported cost impacts from an earlier spike in energy prices after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. They're likely to continue passing some of their increased expenses to consumers.” [PBS News, 7/24/26]
HEADLINE: "Higher Prices For Gas, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The Iran War" [AP News, 6/16/26]
Tomatoes, Bananas, And Onions Experienced Major Price Hikes Since The Beginning Of The War. According to Fortune, "The U.S., Israel, and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, but the sticker shock you’ve been feeling every time you go to the grocery store will get worse if the war continues. One of the first places you’ll feel it will be the produce aisle, experts say. A Fortune analysis of produce wholesale prices from USDA data found grocery-cart staples such as tomatoes, bananas, and yellow onions have experienced significant price spikes since the war began. The United Nations reported its global food price index rose by 2.4% in March, the second consecutive month of rising prices." [Fortune, 4/8/26]
Consumers Faced Higher Costs Of Airfare Due To The Increased Price Of Fuel For Airlines. According to Arizona’s Family, "The week before the war started, the price of jet fuel was $2.50 a gallon. On Tuesday, April 28, the price is $4.26, according to Airlines for America. ‘I fly Southwest mostly. I was able to get a straight flight home and two from here. It was higher than normal, for sure,’ said Patrick Foy, who was flying from Phoenix to Louisiana. Major airliners have already raised checked baggage fees because of the rising fuel prices, while some of the smaller, budget airlines are asking the federal government for billions of dollars in assistance. ‘It’s obviously frustrating. It affects our family’s budget,’ Foy said. Gas experts have said even when the war in Iran ends, the full relief people see at the pump or when buying a plane ticket will most likely not be immediate." [Arizona’s Family, 4/28/26]
Because Of The War In Iran, Alabama Farmers Faced “Increased Prices For Key Agricultural Inputs.” According to WVTM 13, "Alabama farmers are facing increased prices for key agricultural inputs due to the war in Iran. ‘Farmers must be proactive in managing their input costs by efficiently using the resources already available and identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary expenses,’ said Rishi Prasad, an Alabama Extension nutrient management specialist at Auburn University. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, other market disruptions, such as conflicts and tariffs, have caused increases in input costs throughout the year. Wendiam Sawadgo, an Alabama Extension agricultural economist at Auburn University, said nitrogen is the major fertilizer nutrient affected by the war in Iran. ‘In Alabama, nitrogen-based fertilizer prices are trending higher compared to both last year and since the war started in late February this year,’ Sawadgo said. ‘This increase may have a sizable effect on producers who have yet to purchase or price fertilizer for this planting season.’ " [WVTM 13, 3/26/26]
Since The War In Iran Began, Nitrogen-Based Fertilizer Prices In Alabama Were “Trending Higher” Than They Were Before The War. According to WVTM 13, "Alabama farmers are facing increased prices for key agricultural inputs due to the war in Iran. ‘Farmers must be proactive in managing their input costs by efficiently using the resources already available and identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary expenses,’ said Rishi Prasad, an Alabama Extension nutrient management specialist at Auburn University. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, other market disruptions, such as conflicts and tariffs, have caused increases in input costs throughout the year. Wendiam Sawadgo, an Alabama Extension agricultural economist at Auburn University, said nitrogen is the major fertilizer nutrient affected by the war in Iran. ‘In Alabama, nitrogen-based fertilizer prices are trending higher compared to both last year and since the war started in late February this year,’ Sawadgo said. ‘This increase may have a sizable effect on producers who have yet to purchase or price fertilizer for this planting season.’ " [WVTM 13, 3/26/26]
While The Iran War “Sent Gas Prices Soaring” Across The Nation, Alabamians Were Most Effected And It Was Estimated That Each Driving-Person Was Paying $52 More Per Month For Gasoline Compared To Before The War Began. According to the Institute On Taxation And Economic Policy, "The Iran war has sent gas prices soaring by roughly $1.00 per gallon compared to a month ago. By combining gas price data from AAA with data on gas usage by state from the Federal Highway Administration, among other data sources, we are able to measure the impact of higher gas prices nationally, by state, and by region. We find that if current gas price increases persist, American drivers will pay an extra $9.4 billion per month for gasoline. […] The impact of higher gas prices on the South is particularly severe because Southerners tend to purchase more gasoline than residents of other regions. In total, residents of the South will pay $4.2 billion of the $9.4 billion added nationwide expense created by higher gasoline prices. As seen in Figure 1, Southerners are also facing significantly higher impacts, per person, than residents of other regions. […] If current price increases are sustained, we find that the additional monthly expense is highest in Alabama ($52 per driving-age person), Mississippi ($51), Wyoming ($49), Kentucky ($47), and New Mexico ($44)." [Institue On Taxation And Economic Policy, 3/23/26]
[AUDIO] 8/4/26: Marques Admitted That Fertilizer Costs Were “Out Of Control” But Would Not Attribute Them To The War In Iran. According to Rhett Marques on Alabama AgCast, “MARQUES: Our food supply is national security. And we have got to protect our farmers. And becoming energy dominant will help drive down fuel prices. But also with the fertilizer costs right now that are out of control. There in Muscle Shoals is one of the largest facilities for fertilizer and we're looking to expand that here in Alabama to put hopefully more facilities in, to where we can produce more fertilizer. And that will help drive down costs because it will be more local and we're not buying foreign etc. So I'm excited about this opportunity. And I applaud the president and the working family tax cut for putting in there the billions to go back to the farmers, but also extending the death tax, which I don't really believe in the death tax anyway, I've never understood, I think is a double tax.” [Alabama AgCast, 8/4/26]
[VIDEO] 8/7/26: Marques Acknowledged That “Right Now Prices Are High” But Blamed Higher Costs On Obama And Biden And Did Not Attribute High Prices To The War In Iran. According to Rhett Marques on Rightside Media, “Marques: Well, it all comes down to putting more money in the pockets of the people of the state of Alabama. President Trump did a great job passing America's first, excuse me the working families tax cut, the largest tax cut in American history. We did the same thing in Alabama as a state representative. We cut taxes by 1.5 million billion, rather not million, but billion dollars. And we had Alabama's largest tax cut with cutting your grocery tax in half. And so, you know, right now prices are high because of the Obama administration. Inflation was out of control for 40 year highs on inflation. And we are still trying to work down the prices. And, you know, you look at what Wal-Mart did the other day by cutting their retail costs by 15% across the board, it’s starting to happen. But it's going to take time. The Biden administration, the four years under the Biden administration, put us well behind. And it's going to take some time to get it fixed. But President Trump is doing that, and I'm proud to go help him continue that and make sure that we continue working for the farmers in our district, our military and our veterans. And so I'm excited. The second congressional district is a great, great place. We have a lot to offer.” [Rightside Media, 8/7/26]