U.S. President Donald Trump on the 12th (local time) said the United States has gained economic benefits from rising international oil prices, but argued it is more important to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons.
Trump said on the social media platform Truth Social that day, "The United States is the world's largest producer of crude oil," adding, "Therefore, when oil prices rise, we make a lot of money."
He added, "But what is far more important and of concern to me as president is preventing Iran, an evil empire, from possessing nuclear weapons and destroying not only the Middle East but the entire world," stressing, "I will never allow that to happen."
This is seen as a remark intended to emphasize that the current military action is based on the security goal of preventing Iran from possessing nuclear weapons, amid a rise in international oil prices following recent U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.
However, some noted that Trump's comment that "the United States makes big money when oil prices rise" is potentially controversial at a time when higher international oil prices have increased the cost of living in the United States.
The United States began its attack on Iran on the 28th of last month and, as of that day, has continued the military operation named "Great Fury" for 13 days. As Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's crude oil shipments pass, international oil prices rose sharply.