On Tuesday, President Trump emphasized that the current surge in gas prices is a minor inconvenience in comparison to the larger objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
As the national average for gas reached $4.533 per gallon, Trump urged Americans to tolerate the temporary financial strain, assuring them that his administration is focused on curtailing Tehran’s nuclear aspirations.
“Allowing them to obtain a nuclear weapon is not an option,” he stated to reporters gathered outside the White House.
“Do you want to witness global devastation?” he questioned.
“This is a small price to pay, and I am grateful to everyone for their patience. The situation will improve soon,” he reassured.
The persistent rise in gas prices can be attributed to Tehran’s strategic move to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway responsible for transporting 20% of the world’s oil supply.
Gas prices are currently up by 50% since the US and Israel fired the first shots of the war on Feb. 28.
Trump acknowledged that he knew the war in Iran would have harsh economic consequences, but the president maintains that it beats the alternative.
“I thought the market would go down 25%, and I was OK with that to get rid of a nuclear potential holocaust,” Trump said.
“You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon, and it won’t have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
The president’s comments come after the latest stall in peace talks between Iran and the US, with Trump repeatedly warning Tehran to get serious about negotiating or else the war would restart.
“We may have to give them another big hit. I’m not sure yet. You’ll know very soon,” Trump told reporters after revealing that he was only “an hour away” from launching fresh attacks on Tuesday.
