Trump: We Hit Iran Like No Country Before and We’re Not Done Yet

President Trump issued some of his most forceful statements yet about the ongoing conflict with Iran on Wednesday, telling reporters that American forces have struck the country with almost unparalleled military force — and that the campaign is not yet over. The remarks came alongside a Truth Social post in which Trump declared that stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is more important than the oil price surge now sending shockwaves through global markets. The combined statements painted a picture of a president determined to press the conflict to its strategic conclusion.
The oil market context for these remarks is extraordinary. The IEA described the conflict-driven supply disruption as the largest in recorded market history, with Gulf producers cutting output by roughly 10 million barrels per day — close to 10% of global demand. Brent crude rose as much as 10% Thursday to briefly exceed $100 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate climbed toward $96 before retreating. The IEA deployed 400 million barrels of emergency reserves, and the US announced a 172-million-barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve release.
On Truth Social, Trump framed the energy crisis partly as a financial opportunity for the United States, arguing that as the world’s largest oil producer, America earns more when crude prices rise. But he immediately pivoted to his deeper priority: ensuring that Iran — an “evil Empire,” in his language — never obtains nuclear weapons and brings catastrophe to the Middle East and the world. He pledged his absolute commitment to preventing this.
Trump’s declaration outside the White House underscored the administration’s military posture. His claim that the US is “not finished yet” with Iran signals that Washington is not approaching the conflict with an exit strategy in hand. Earlier, Trump had suggested the war might be nearing its end, creating confusion among allies and investors about the administration’s actual intentions.
Trump expressed no concern about Iranian retaliation against American soil. The IEA and US reserve releases have cushioned but not resolved the market disruption. With the conflict ongoing and Trump firmly committed to the nuclear containment mission, global energy markets face a prolonged period of instability.