Romanian energy expert Dumitru Chisăliță warns that escalating tensions in the Gulf region could lead to a significant rise in fuel prices within the next two weeks. He specifically predicts that diesel could return to 10 lei per liter, a psychologically significant threshold for consumers. Gasoline prices might also increase, potentially reaching 9.1-9.2 lei per liter. Currently, prices are expected to remain stable in the short term, but the situation is highly volatile and dependent on the Gulf conflict’s evolution. Such price hikes would directly contribute to increased inflation and raise the cost of goods and services across the economy. Chisăliță, president of the Smart Energy Association, emphasized the direct link between geopolitical instability and Romanian fuel costs.