Photo: Daniel Torok / Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
President Donald Trump defended the U.S. military campaign against Iran at a rally in Mississippi on Monday, saying he had been prepared for a much larger rise in oil prices and arguing that preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons justified the operation.
Speaking in Corinth, Trump also criticized a ceasefire and warned about Iranian missile capabilities. His remarks put the conflict’s energy costs and his assessment of Iran’s military threat at the center of an election-season address.
In the rally recording and transcript carried by C-SPAN, Trump said he expected oil prices to go “much, much higher” and had been “fully prepared to do it” because “we really had no choice.” He said action should have been taken long before his administration.
Oil costs and the ceasefire
Trump portrayed the military operation as necessary despite its potential cost to energy consumers. He said the fighting would end soon, but did not give a timetable in that portion of the address.
He described an earlier ceasefire as a “waste of time” and said he had never liked it. He said the pause had allowed some ships through a blockade, while arguing that the United States should keep pressure on Iran.
Those statements were the president’s characterization of the conflict and its economic consequences, rather than a new agreement or a published change in military policy.
Missile and nuclear claims
Trump said Iran had developed a missile that could reach Europe and raised the prospect of threats to American cities, naming San Diego and Los Angeles. He argued that Iran could not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
He also claimed U.S. attacks had severely damaged Iran’s navy, aircraft and radar network. The rally remarks did not provide supporting intelligence or an independent military assessment for those claims.
The address took place as Trump campaigned for Republican candidates in Mississippi, including Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
JBizNews Desk | Corinth, Mississippi
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