In a recent interview, President Trump stated that tensions between the U.S. and Iran might last for another two to three weeks, though he did not confirm if the ceasefire would hold. “We’ve limited what we need to do for now, maybe for two, maybe three weeks,” he remarked to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, noting that “time is not a priority for us.”
Following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Trump had predicted the conflict would last around four weeks. A nominal ceasefire has been observed since April 8, but the fighting, which lasted for about nine weeks, concluded last Saturday.
“We’re going to win regardless,” Trump declared. “Either we’ll strike a beneficial deal, or we’ll win decisively. From the military perspective, we have already succeeded. You’ve heard me say it repeatedly, and I’m sure others have echoed it as well. They had 159 ships, and now they’re mostly down. Today, we took out eight of them. They’re reduced to just a few small, quick vessels.”
Earlier on Monday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported successful passage of two U.S.-flagged commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz on the first day of this new initiative by the Trump administration to ensure safe navigation. CENTCOM’s commander, Adm. Brett Cooper, mentioned in a press conference that six small boats targeting these commercial vessels had been destroyed.
In retaliation, Iran launched about 20 missiles and drones towards the United Arab Emirates. The UAE’s Ministry of Defense claimed it intercepted 15 missiles and four drones, while the eastern emirate of Fujairah reported a drone attack that resulted in a fire at a significant oil facility, injuring three Indian nationals. Additionally, the British military reported that two cargo ships caught fire off the UAE coast.
When asked by Hewitt whether Iran’s attacks would provoke a response from the U.S., Trump responded, “I can’t say that.” He added, “To answer that, I would imply this person isn’t intelligent enough to be in charge of the United States.”
The president also downplayed the rising oil prices stemming from the near-total disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. He mentioned an expectation of a stock market dip of around 20% to 25% when the war began, but he seemed unconcerned. He speculated oil prices might soar to $200 to $250 per barrel, noting that as of now, it’s around $100 to $102.
As of Tuesday morning, Brent crude oil was approximately $112 per barrel.
“The brilliance of this situation is that we’re finding alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump asserted. “They’re routing to Texas, Alaska, Louisiana. We can see it through satellites… It’s impressive how it’s being managed. Oil won’t reach $250 or $300, and the stock market is still posting record highs.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the country’s delegation during last month’s unsuccessful peace negotiations in Pakistan, took to social media to deride the U.S. “A new dynamic in the Strait of Hormuz is taking shape. The U.S. and its allies are undermining shipping and energy transport security by failing ceasefires and enforcing blockades. Their malicious actions will ultimately backfire,” he stated.
Ghalibaf further acknowledged, “We are aware that the U.S. cannot accept this status quo, even though it hasn’t fully unfolded yet.”
