Nuclear Threat More Important Than Oil Prices, Trump Says as Markets Panic

As global energy markets recorded their worst supply disruption in history, President Trump stepped in Thursday with a message that cut against the grain of market anxiety: stopping Iran from going nuclear matters more than any oil price spike. Trump made the declaration on Truth Social, where he also argued that higher oil prices financially benefit the United States as the world’s dominant crude producer. His remarks were both a strategic statement and an implicit defense of the military campaign driving the current energy crisis.
The conflict has reduced Gulf oil output by an estimated 10 million barrels per day — approximately 10% of world demand — while effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose as much as 10% Thursday to briefly exceed $100 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate climbed toward $96 before pulling back slightly. The IEA called the supply disruption the largest ever recorded and responded with a coordinated 400-million-barrel emergency reserve release.
Trump’s Truth Social post stated directly that America profits from high oil prices given its position as the world’s largest producer. He then drew a sharp contrast, stating that this financial benefit is of secondary concern compared to his priority of stopping Iran — an “evil Empire” in his characterization — from obtaining nuclear weapons and destabilizing the region and the world. He pledged his absolute determination to prevent this outcome.
The declaration carries weight beyond rhetoric. It suggests the White House is prepared to sustain the military conflict for as long as it takes to address the nuclear question, regardless of how markets react. Trump’s statements have been mixed — he suggested the war might be winding down while also telling reporters on Wednesday that the US is “not finished yet” with Iran and has hit the country harder than virtually any nation in history has been struck.
The United States is releasing 172 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to complement the IEA’s broader intervention. Trump said he has no fear of an Iranian attack on US soil. With the conflict ongoing and no diplomatic breakthrough visible, global markets face continued uncertainty.