Preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons important than rising oil prices—Trump

US president says curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions outweighs concerns over global oil price surge amid escalating Middle East tensions.

Amid growing panic in global energy markets following disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said his administration’s priority remains stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even as crude prices continue to rise.

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, the US president said the United States benefits from higher oil prices because it is the world’s largest oil producer.

“The United States is the largest oil producer in the world, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump wrote. “But of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stopping an evil empire, Iran, from having nuclear weapons and destroying the Middle East and indeed the world. I won’t ever let that happen.”

The remarks come as the ongoing US-Iran conflict continues to disrupt oil supply routes in the Middle East, raising fears of a wider regional crisis and volatility in global energy markets.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump also dismissed concerns about a possible Iranian attack on American soil, saying US forces had dealt heavy blows to Tehran.

“We have hit them harder than virtually any country in history has been hit, and we’re not finished yet,” he said.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency warned that the conflict is creating one of the biggest oil supply shocks recorded in global markets. Gulf producers in the Middle East have reportedly reduced their output by about 10 million barrels per day, nearly 10 per cent of global demand.

According to Bloomberg, global benchmark Brent crude briefly surged past $100 per barrel during Thursday trading, while West Texas Intermediate climbed close to $96 per barrel before easing slightly.

To stabilize the market, the IEA announced a coordinated release of 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves held by its member countries. The United States also said it would release 172 million barrels of crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help ease pressure on global markets.