NATIONWIDE -- Gas prices are climbing toward that painful $4 mark. The national average is up 10 percent from the start of this year.

The most recent reason could be that Iran's oil ministry said it would stop exporting oil to French and British companies. That was in reaction to new sanctions from the US and EU.

US crude oil is up to more than $106 a barrel.

According to AAA.com, the average price for a gallon of gas in the US is $3.61. In New York State, drivers are paying even more than that. According to AAA, the average in New York is $3.89 a gallon.