Donald Trump insisted that the surge in oil prices caused by the conflict with Iran is a small price to pay to achieve the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.,
On 5 May 2026, President Donald Trump once again downplayed the severe impact of the conflict with Iran on American consumers, reasoning that the rising oil prices are a “small price to pay” to eliminate Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
Trump stated that the crude oil price per barrel has not risen as high as he initially expected.
“I thought oil would reach $200, $250, or maybe even $300, and I knew it would only be a short-term effect,” Trump told reporters, adding, “Today, I see the price around $102, which is a very small price to pay to remove nuclear weapons from the hands of those unstable people.”
Additionally, Trump said that once the war ends, oil prices will “return to normal on their own.”
However, data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) show that current average gasoline prices at U.S. pumps stand at $4.48 per gallon, having surged significantly in recent days — up 31 cents just this week — resulting in an overall increase of about 50% since the conflict began on 28 February.
The U.S. leader also declined to specify clearly what actions would constitute a violation of the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the ceasefire remains in effect despite Iran firing on multiple vessels in the Persian Gulf—including U.S. ships—and attacking territory in the United Arab Emirates again on Monday.
“You’ll find out soon enough because I’ll be the one to tell you… They know what to do and what not to do,” Trump said in the Oval Office, adding that Iran is currently “looking for small boats to try to compete with our great Navy.”
Trump asserted that no one dares to challenge U.S. operations blocking ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports, and claimed that Iran wants to make a deal.
“They’re just playing games, but let me tell you, they desperately want to make a deal. And who wouldn’t want to, when your military is completely destroyed?”
Trump also said he wants to see Iran’s financial system collapse. “That’s exactly what we’re doing… I hope it collapses completely. You know why? Because I want victory.”
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Source:cnn