Washingtin DC: US President Donald Trump has defended his administration’s hard-line approach toward Iran, saying Washington could step up its actions against Tehran while insisting that the country must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump argued that previous US presidents should have acted against Iran much earlier, portraying his administration’s measures as necessary to address what he described as a longstanding threat. He acknowledged that his approach may not enjoy universal support but claimed it had backing from patriotic Americans.
“I’m doing what should have been done by other presidents. We can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, adding that while some people might disagree with his actions, many strongly supported them.
The US president also indicated that Washington could go further in its campaign against Tehran, declaring that his administration had already inflicted significant damage on Iran.
“This should have been done a long time ago by other presidents. We’ve knocked the hell out of them, and we may go a little further,” he said.
Earlier, Trump took to Truth Social to accuse Iran of attempting to push up international oil prices ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections. He alleged that Tehran was manufacturing reports of attacks and maritime threats to create uncertainty in global energy markets.
Questioning reports of disruptions in the Persian Gulf, Trump claimed that oil shipments through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz were higher than before the conflict began.
“Iran is doing everything they can to drive up the price of Oil prior to the U.S. Midterm Election,” he wrote, alleging that Tehran was fabricating reports of attacks and mines despite increased oil flows through the key shipping route.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global energy supplies, making any threat to maritime traffic there a potential source of volatility in international oil markets.
Trump also accused Iran’s leadership of violently suppressing public demonstrations, describing the government as an “evil regime.” He claimed that 75,000 protesters had been killed in less than seven months, a figure that was not independently verified in the material provided.
The president criticised what he portrayed as an inadequate response from political opponents in the US and the international community, reiterating that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remained a central objective of his administration.
Trump’s latest remarks underscore his continued commitment to maintaining pressure on Tehran, combining warnings of possible further action with allegations that Iran is attempting to influence energy prices and exploit tensions in the region.
His statements come amid continued concerns over regional security, the stability of oil supplies and the wider implications of the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
