President Donald Trump says he is in a “deciding mode” on Iran, weighing “wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal.”
Trump explained Sunday that getting Iran to negotiate is difficult when “some of the officials are hiding like rats.” Trump told Fox News’ Trey Yingst that “very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future” in Iran. He said, “My question is if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They better behave.”
President Trump will be attending the UN General Assembly this week and said he would be open to meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who will also be in attendance. The United States approved visas for Iran’s “core delegation” on Thursday. The State Department said the move was “consistent with our host country obligations.”
The war has continued to escalate in September, with Iran shooting down at least two U.S. MQ-1 drones in recent days. Officials have not said where the aircraft went down or which variant of the MQ-1 was involved. Iran also struck a U.S.-contracted vessel near the Strait of Hormuz this week, according to Yingst’s sources. One projectile hit the ship, causing minor injuries to those aboard, including “U.S. personnel.”
The fighting has also spread to Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, where Iran-backed Houthi forces attacked Riyadh on Saturday. The State Department has urged Americans to reconsider travel to the region amid continuing missile and drone activity, warning that attacks are hitting not only military bases but also cities, airports, infrastructure and energy sites.
Ahead of a Tuesday meeting with Gulf leaders at the UN, Trump told Axios on Thursday, “I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them.”
Republicans are eager to reach a solution in Iran with the war causing increased prices for crude oil. The rise in energy costs has affected other goods and services, stirring dissatisfaction around affordability shortly before the midterm elections in November. Diesel prices hit an all-time high in September, reaching $6.40 per gallon on Thursday. Diesel is up 73% since last year. Trump said the increase in energy costs however were a “very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done” referencing his administration’s efforts to curb Iran’s ability to obtain a nuclear weapon.
The administration predicts that prices will “come tumbling down” shortly after the midterm elections. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said crude oil could fall as low as $40 per barrel when the war ends. “We’re going to get on the other side of this Iran conflict, and I expect that oil will come down,” Bessent said. “We’re going to be very much oversupplied in the oil market after this.
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