Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 8: US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that oil prices would fall sharply once the United States achieves victory in its conflict with Iran, predicting that gasoline prices could eventually drop below two dollars per gallon.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump linked high energy costs to the ongoing military operations in West Asia and said markets would stabilise rapidly once the conflict ends.
"Oil prices will drop precipitously, like everything else is dropping (but more!), when we WIN the war with Iran," Trump wrote. "Three Dollars a gallon, but ultimately, below Two Dollars a gallon."
Trump also reiterated his threat that the United States would not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
"It will all happen quickly, and Iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon. MAGA!" he added.
Earlier on Monday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned Washington against any attacks on Iranian energy facilities, saying such action would have serious repercussions.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf said Iran's oil and gas production chain was "sprawling, accessible, and exposed" and warned that American energy companies and facilities operating in the region could also face risks.
"American oil and gas companies across these waters and facilities share that exposure. Strike our assets, and you get struck. We've already proven it. Ask the bases that are no longer viable," he said.
In an image shared alongside his post, Ghalibaf warned that the US economy could face a prolonged downturn, stating, "The lost decade of the US Economy is coming, because some clowns at D.O.W. decided so."
Ghalibaf made the remarks while resharing a post by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who claimed that Iran's oil tanker fleet was defenceless and repeated Washington's assertion that Iran's navy and air force had been destroyed.
Hegseth warned that the United States would target Iranian oil tankers if Iran attacked US naval vessels.
"It's simple: if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers. All they have to do is not shoot at @USNavy. Iran's oil tanker fleet is defenceless - Iran has no navy or air force. Our planes, ships & subs can strike them all in @CENTCOM & @USPACOM," Hegseth said.
Hegseth also shared a video from US Central Command (CENTCOM) showing strikes on oil tankers.
CENTCOM said three Iranian crude oil tankers targeted by US forces were part of a multibillion-dollar "shadow network" allegedly used to fund Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional proxies. It also claimed that Iran lacked the capability to defend the vessels.
"Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours," said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.
"We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet," Cooper added.
The exchange of threats comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with energy infrastructure, oil supplies and tanker routes emerging as a major point of concern in the widening conflict.