Trump Defends Iran Strike As Oil Prices Surge

President Donald Trump pushed back against criticism over rising oil prices this week, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons far outweighs temporary spikes in global energy costs.

Trump made the remarks after the global benchmark Brent crude briefly climbed above $100 per barrel for the second time in the same week as tensions escalate in the Middle East.

The president said critics are missing the bigger picture.

“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 on Truth Social.

“But of far greater importance to me is stopping an evil empire, Iran, from having nuclear weapons and destroying the Middle East and potentially the world.”

The price surge comes amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical energy chokepoints on the planet.

Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply flows through the narrow waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf to global markets.

Recent Iranian attacks on shipping in the region including projectiles striking two oil tankers have forced several countries to halt or reduce operations at nearby oil terminals.

Security concerns prompted both Iraq and Oman to temporarily close major oil facilities, further tightening global supply.

While energy markets reacted quickly to the disruption, Trump emphasized that the central objective of the U.S. military operation remains Iran’s nuclear program.

Defense officials say the goal of the campaign is to permanently dismantle Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said intelligence indicates Iran had been constructing a conventional defense system designed to shield its nuclear infrastructure from attack.

Despite the rising oil prices, the administration has taken steps aimed at stabilizing energy markets.

Trump announced that the United States will release 172 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The emergency stockpile the largest in the world can hold more than 700 million barrels of oil in underground storage sites along the Gulf Coast.

The administration says the reserve will be refilled once market conditions stabilize.

The White House is also considering additional measures to keep energy supplies moving.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that officials are reviewing whether to temporarily waive the Jones Act, a federal law requiring ships transporting goods between U.S. ports to be American-built and operated.

A waiver could allow more vessels to transport oil and other critical supplies across U.S. ports, potentially lowering shipping costs.

Meanwhile, gasoline prices have already climbed noticeably across the United States.

According to AAA, the national average price for gasoline reached $3.59 per gallon, up from $2.94 just one month earlier.

The administration is also weighing security measures for global shipping routes.

Trump has suggested that the U.S. Navy could escort oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the safe flow of energy shipments.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said such an operation may happen soon but indicated the military’s immediate focus remains the ongoing campaign against Iran.

“All of our military assets right now are focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities,” Wright said.

At the same time, Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to keep pressure on global energy supplies.

In a message released Thursday, he said Iran intends to continue using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the conflict.

“Certainly, the lever of closing the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used,” Khamenei said.

For Trump, however, the broader strategic objective remains clear.

In his view, the temporary economic impact is a price worth paying if it means preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

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