U.S. president Donald Trump said preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon outweighs concerns about Americans’ economic hardship.
Speaking before departing the White House for a trip to China, Trump made clear that domestic financial pressures are not influencing his decisions. “Not even a little bit,” he said when asked whether Americans’ economic situation played a role. “The only thing that matters, when I’m talking about Iran, they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
His remarks come as inflation and energy costs continue to rise, partly driven by the conflict with Iran.
Trump has repeatedly argued the Iran crisis is primarily a matter of national and global security. The White House reinforced this position, saying the president’s “ultimate responsibility is the safety and security of Americans.”
The comments follow Trump’s earlier rejection of Iran’s proposed peace terms to end the war. He described Tehran’s response to a U.S. plan as “totally unacceptable” and signalled the potential for further escalation. Iran had warned it would retaliate against any new U.S. strikes and oppose additional foreign military presence in the Strait of Hormuz.
