Trump Defends Iran Strikes Despite Fuel Surge Before Midterms
Washington, October 24: U.S. President Donald Trump has conceded that the war with Iran has driven up oil prices, creating financial pressure on American families. He maintained, however, that the cost was worth paying to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
In an interview with WINK-TV, a Florida television network, Trump said he had expected energy prices to rise when he chose to take military action against Iran. Even so, he said he believed the conflict would end soon and that fuel costs would drop sharply afterward.
His remarks come ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, when inflation and everyday living expenses are emerging as major concerns for voters. The Republican Party is working to hold on to its majority in Congress.
When questioned about whether ordinary people were paying the price for rising costs, Trump replied, "It's a small price to pay to take nuclear weapons away from a very bad country like Iran."
During the interview, anchor Claire Galt pointed out that Americans are still dealing with expensive groceries. She said gasoline in southwest Florida had reached an average of $4.18 per gallon. Trump conceded that beef prices remain elevated and that oil costs have climbed because of the war.
"Beef prices are a little high, but they're coming down," he said. He explained that livestock raising and production take time, meaning prices may need a while to stabilize.
Turning to energy costs, Trump said he had known that oil would become more expensive but argued that military action could not be avoided. He said prices had been considerably lower before, and that he had anticipated the increase, but that it was a necessary decision.
Trump reaffirmed that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, calling it among the world's largest state sponsors of terrorism. "Iran should not have nuclear weapons. Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. That's why I'm proud to have taken this action," he said.
He did not offer a specific timeline for ending the war, but said the fighting could stop soon. "I think it will end soon, through a deal or some other way, but it will end," he said. This suggested that further military action could remain a possibility alongside diplomatic efforts. The administration, meanwhile, is seeking to convince Americans that the economic effects of the conflict will not last long.
At a separate Republican campaign rally in Fort Myers, Trump returned to the subject. He said his government had considered the likely economic fallout before launching military operations. He recalled that gasoline prices in Iowa had been between $1.85 and $1.95 per gallon before the campaign against Iran began.
He added that he then told senior officials that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons should be the top priority. Trump also claimed that oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had increased despite the war.
"A tremendous amount of oil is passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Surprisingly, more oil is coming through there now than before the war," he said.
According to Trump, this has been made possible by the active presence of the U.S. Navy and American military forces in the area. However, the claim of increased oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has not been independently verified based on the available information.