Trump warns Iran as oil fears grow
Washington, May 27
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran was making progress in negotiations with the United States but warned military action remained an option, as concerns mounted over oil prices and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said the administration's central objective remained preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump said. "I'm doing that for the world."
The President said Tehran was beginning to offer concessions in ongoing talks but insisted any agreement had to be comprehensive.
"We can make a good deal right now, but maybe not a great deal, and if it's not a great deal, we're not making it," he said.
Trump repeatedly linked the talks to rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping lane through which a large portion of global oil supplies move. He ruled out any arrangement that would allow Iran to control the waterway.
"The Strait is going to be open to everybody," Trump said. "Nobody's going to control it. It's international waters."
The remarks came as oil markets remained volatile following recent military escalation involving Iran. Trump acknowledged that American consumers had seen higher fuel prices but argued the increase would be temporary.
"Those prices are going to come down fast," he said.
Trump defended recent US military operations against Iran, saying Tehran's nuclear ambitions had been set back significantly. He claimed Iran would have obtained a nuclear weapon "within two weeks" had the US not acted.
"If they had a nuclear weapon, it would have been used already," Trump said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said diplomacy remained Washington's preferred option but stressed that the administration would not compromise on Iran's nuclear programme.
"The bottom line is Iran's never going to have a nuclear weapon," Rubio said. "Diplomacy is always the first option."
Rubio added that there had been "some progress" in the negotiations and said the coming days would determine whether a broader agreement could be reached.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said recent US actions had severely weakened Iran's military capabilities.
"They may have missiles, but they can't build more right now," Hegseth said.
Hegseth described "Operation Epic Fury" as part of a broader effort to pressure Tehran economically and militarily. He said Iranian tankers were being targeted globally and that the country's economy was "hurting big time".
Trump also claimed the US was now producing more oil than "Russia and Saudi Arabia combined" and said expanded American and Venezuelan output would help stabilise global energy markets.
The President said hundreds of ships remained lined up near the Strait of Hormuz awaiting passage.
"You have about 14, 1500 boats in the strait wanting to get out, and at the right time we'll release them," Trump said.
Trump also signalled that broader Middle East diplomacy could become part of any final arrangement with Tehran. He urged Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to join the Abraham Accords, calling such a move "historic".
— IANS
Reader Comments
Trump's claim of producing more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia combined is a bold one. But let's not forget that relying on U.S. production doesn't help Asian consumers like us when tankers are stuck near Hormuz. The real issue is that the entire global supply chain is held hostage by these regional tensions. Diplomacy should absolutely be the first option, but Rubio's "never going to have a nuclear weapon" ultimatum sounds more like a recipe for more conflict than peace.
Meanwhile, back in India, we're watching our fuel prices hit new highs again. 🤦♂️ The government might say it's temporary, but so was the last "temporary" spike, and the one before that. It's high time we pushed for alternative routes and diversified our oil imports, maybe ramp up the renewable push too. What happens in the Gulf impacts our auto drivers and householders directly.
I don't trust any American president when it comes to Middle Eastern oil politics. Trump says he's preventing a nuclear weapon, but the real aim is to control supply routes and keep prices favorable for the U.S. Our Indian diplomats should be engaging with both Iran and the U.S. to ensure our ships get safe passage. Strait of Hormuz is too vital to be left to the whims of superpowers.
Interesting how Trump mentions 'Abraham Accords' and including Gulf countries. That seems like a long shot given the current tensions. 😅 But honestly, for India, the bigger concern is the 1500 boats stuck in the Strait. That's going to cause a supply crunch and higher prices for weeks. The government needs to release strategic reserves if needed.
J We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.