In the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, now entering its third week, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. is not prepared to bring the military conflict to a close, but would still exit soon.
“We’re not ready to leave yet. But…we’ll be leaving in the near future. We’ll be leaving in pretty much the very near future,” Trump informed White House correspondents on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting with the Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin, on Tuesday.
However, he did not provide any specific details regarding a post-conflict plan with Iran.
Trump maintained his stance that Iran has been “decimated from every standpoint” since the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale attacks on the country on February 28. He estimated that Iran’s recovery would take a decade.
When asked about the possibility of the conflict escalating to a Vietnam-like situation, Trump dismissed the concern, stating, “No, I’m not afraid of… I’m really not afraid of anything.”
Oil Fears Rise As War Tensions Escalate
This announcement comes amid growing concerns about the duration and potential escalation of the conflict, particularly as crude oil and gasoline prices rise. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has criticized the Trump administration for its handling of the situation, expressing uncertainty about the administration’s objectives and endgame to the war.
At 2:56 AM ET, WTI crude oil was trading 3.12% lower at $93.20 per barrel. Meanwhile, the national gas prices stood at $3.79 per gallon while diesel prices crossed $5 per gallon, as per the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
David Sacks, Trump’s AI and Crypto Czar, has also voiced concerns about the potential for “catastrophic” outcomes if the conflict continues to escalate. He suggests that the U.S. should “declare victory and withdraw” now that Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened.
Meanwhile, Iran has signaled its preparedness for a prolonged conflict, after Trump earlier hinted at a ‘bigger wave’ of attacks. The President had suggested that the operation could run for four to five weeks, or possibly longer.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.
Image via Shutterstock
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