US President Donald Trump has said the Iran war will end “very soon”, predicting that global oil prices would fall sharply once the conflict concludes.
Speaking to reporters in Montana late on Wednesday, Trump linked the expected end of the fighting to lower energy prices and an improvement in the American economy. He insisted that Tehran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
“The Iran war will end very soon,” Trump said. “They’ll never have a nuclear weapon, and oil prices will drop like a rock.”
The president did not give a specific timetable for ending the conflict or explain whether negotiations were under way to secure an agreement with Tehran. He maintained that the United States had achieved its central military objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Trump Iran war end: his claims about Iran’s military
At a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, earlier in the day, Trump gave a more detailed account of the American military campaign against Iran. He claimed that US operations had severely weakened Iran’s armed forces, including its naval and air capabilities.
He asserted that Iran once had 159 ships and that none remained operational, while claiming its fighter jets had been destroyed on the country’s runways. These claims have not been independently verified.
Trump also expressed uncertainty over which Iranian officials the US was negotiating with as Washington sought to end the conflict. He suggested that the scale of the American operations had complicated Washington’s ability to identify Iranian officials with whom it could negotiate.
‘Mother of all bombs’ reportedly under consideration
Separately, the US military has developed strike plans that could include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs”, against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if Trump orders renewed combat operations, CNN reported on Thursday, citing US officials familiar with the matter.
The potential deployment of the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal would mark a significant escalation in the conflict, although officials told CNN that questions remained over its effectiveness in achieving Washington’s strategic objectives. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report.
What the Iran war means for oil prices and Pakistan
Trump’s prediction of sharply lower oil prices matters directly for Pakistan. Petrol is currently priced at Rs387.40 per litre and diesel at Rs400.35 per litre in Pakistan, and any sustained drop in global crude prices would ease pressure on domestic fuel prices and the import bill.
The conflict has already rattled markets and regional economies. The IMF has warned that Gulf economies will not return to pre-war growth soon after months of war that began in Iran and spread to Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Gold prices recently fell below $4,100 an ounce on US inflation data, showing how sensitive markets remain to the war’s course.
Pakistan has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia during the conflict, with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar calling strikes on civilians “totally unacceptable” and reaffirming solidarity with the kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump say about the Iran war?
Trump said late on Wednesday that the war with Iran would end “very soon” and predicted that oil prices would fall sharply once the fighting stopped. He insisted Iran would never get a nuclear weapon.
Could oil prices really fall?
Lower oil prices would depend on the war actually ending and supply routes staying open. Markets remain volatile, and the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for oil shipments, has seen repeated attacks during the conflict.
What does the war mean for Pakistan?
Pakistan imports most of its oil, so global crude prices feed directly into domestic petrol and diesel prices. A lasting end to the war would ease that pressure, while escalation would do the opposite.
The IMF has warned Gulf economies will not return to pre-war growth soon. Petrol in Pakistan currently costs Rs387.40 per litre. Gold fell below $4,100 on US inflation data. Pakistan earlier condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The US has also approved arms sales to Saudi Arabia during the conflict.
