Trump underscores Iran nuclear threat as economic turmoil escalates ahead of US midterms

Donald Trump has said stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb is “the only thing that matters”, as the economic fallout from the conflict starts to shape the political battlefield ahead of November’s midterm elections. Speaking at the White House before leaving for China, he told reporters: “I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all.” (

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His comments came just hours after official data showed US prices rising 3.8% in April, the sharpest annual increase since 2023. Energy has been the main driver, with fuel, food, power bills and airfares all climbing as the war has pushed up costs. AAA data show average gasoline prices now above $4.50 a gallon, the highest level in four years. (theguardian.com)

The White House has repeatedly stressed Trump’s position on Iran. In March, it published a list of 74 previous occasions on which he had said Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. But Axios and Reuters have reported growing concern inside the administration that inflationary pressure, weaker consumer confidence and cooling small-business sentiment could become a political problem if the conflict drags on. (investing.com)

Trump’s trip to Beijing has added another layer of complexity. AP reported that his talks with Xi Jinping were expected to focus on the Iran war, trade tensions and US arms sales to Taiwan, with investors watching closely for any sign of progress. Reuters said Trump was seeking to preserve a fragile trade truce while navigating the wider fallout from the conflict, which has become central not only to foreign policy but to his domestic standing. (apnews.com)

For now, though, the president appears unmoved by the economic strain. Asked earlier this week about Americans’ financial worries, he said he was not focused on that pain at all, underscoring how firmly the Iran crisis has overtaken other priorities in his administration. (theguardian.com)

Source: Noah Wire Services