Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday characterized a nuclear-armed Iran as a "cancer," asserting that the United States has "cut it out" through its current military actions against the Islamic Republic.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump delivered these statements at the National Republican Congressional Committee's annual fundraising dinner in Washington. He discussed the ongoing "Operation Epic Fury," a U.S. campaign of airstrikes against Iran, now in its fourth week. The operation aims to dismantle Iran's missile capabilities and Navy, effectively preventing any progress towards nuclear armament.
During his speech, Trump emphasized the necessity of this military action by stating, "What we had to do is get rid of the cancer. We had to cut out the cancer. The cancer was Iran with a nuclear weapon, and we've cut it out." He attempted to reassure the public about the economic consequences of the conflict, describing potential economic impacts as "short term."
Trump further addressed economic concerns, saying, "I thought that the energy prices ... would go up, go up higher. I thought the stock market would go somewhat lower, but it didn't matter to me ... short term," highlighting the priority of preventing Iran's nuclear development over temporary economic fluctuations.
As the Trump administration seeks diplomatic solutions to de-escalate the conflict, there is growing anxiety over the war's potential effects on oil prices and inflation. The administration is reportedly seeking a diplomatic resolution with Tehran to mitigate these concerns.