Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – With Congress out of session until June 8, Arkansas First District Congressman Rick Crawford returned home to northeast Arkansas this week carrying with him concerns about tensions with Iran, rising fuel prices, and the future of the long-awaited federal Farm Bill.

Speaking while back in his district during the Memorial Day recess, Crawford — who now chairs the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence — said he does not view Iran’s latest negotiating posture as credible amid escalating international tensions in the Middle East.

Iran reportedly has demanded reparations, sanctions relief, and control over the Strait of Hormuz as part of ongoing negotiations with the United States and Western allies.

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“I would say that’s not a serious proposal on the part of Iran,” Crawford said. “I don’t think they are in any position to bargain. They’ve reached the level of pretty much taking whatever the president orders them to take, given the state of their military and the state of their political position.”

Crawford also suggested President Donald Trump has so far exercised restraint in avoiding military action.

“I think the president has shown remarkable forbearance by not engaging militarily over the last few weeks,” Crawford said, “but I’m not sure how long that posture will hold out.”

As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Crawford has become one of the key congressional voices on national security and intelligence matters in Washington.

Closer to home, Crawford acknowledged the strain higher fuel prices are placing on Arkansas families and farmers, especially during planting season when diesel and transportation costs heavily impact agricultural operations.

“Like everyone else, I’m anxious to see gas prices decline,” he said.

Crawford said he believes increased domestic production and additional oil entering global markets could eventually stabilize prices.

“I think we’re at a point now where we could start to see more domestic production priced into the marketplace, as well as Venezuelan oil priced into the market,” he said. “Once we start to see the spec trading tail off a little bit and we start to see a more realistic reflection of what the supply chain actually looks like, we could expect those gas prices to go down.”

The reference to Venezuela comes as Washington continues its naval enforcement operations in the Caribbean to disrupt illicit oil networks. Market analysts believe that stabilizing the flow of legally traded heavy crude from the region, combined with booming U.S. energy production, is key to offsetting the current supply anxieties sparked by tensions in the Middle East

Agriculture remains a major focus for Crawford, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee. He recently supported the passage of the House version of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, legislation that would update federal farm, nutrition, and rural development programs for the first time since 2018.

The bill included amendments Crawford championed, including a proposal allowing SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken with benefits.

Crawford said he believes the legislation has a strong chance in the Senate, although some differences between the chambers will likely need to be resolved through a conference committee.

“I think we sent the Senate a pretty solid Farm Bill,” he said. “I don’t anticipate a lot of problems with it.”

Still, Crawford acknowledged the challenge of finalizing such a large and politically sensitive package before the current extension expires.

“It would be nice if we could get this thing done before the end of the fiscal year so we don’t have to engage in another extension,” he said. “Farmers just need certainty right now, and I think that’s what we’ve delivered in the House by moving the Farm Bill across the floor and sending it to the Senate.”

The House passed the measure earlier this spring after months of committee negotiations and multiple temporary extensions of the previous Farm Bill.

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