President Donald Trump has said the United States’ military action against Iran was driven by the need to safeguard its allies in the Middle East.
Addressing the nation amid escalating tensions in the region, Trump stressed that Washington would not allow friendly nations, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, to come under threat.
He maintained that although the US no longer depends on Middle Eastern oil, it remains committed to supporting its partners in the region.
According to him, “We are independent of the Middle East, but we are there to assist our allies. We don’t need their resources, but we will not abandon those we support.”
The US leader also renewed his criticism of the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated by former President Barack Obama, arguing that the deal would have enabled Iran to expand its nuclear capabilities.
Trump defended his earlier decision to withdraw from the accord, describing it as necessary to prevent what he called a potential security threat.
He, however, avoided direct comments on NATO, amid previous criticisms that member nations had not done enough to secure key global shipping routes.
The conflict has heightened concerns in the global energy market, with oil prices rising following disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a major channel for crude oil shipments.
Trump said the US does not rely on the strait, urging countries dependent on the route to take greater responsibility for its security.
He expressed optimism that normalcy would return once hostilities subside, noting that the vital shipping corridor would eventually reopen.
