Trump: Iran War’s Economic Hit Less Than Feared

Trump Surprised by Mild Economic Impact of Iran Action

Former President Donald Trump stated that the economic consequences of his administration’s actions against Iran were less severe than he had anticipated. During a period of heightened tensions, Trump believed that imposing sanctions and taking military action would lead to a significant increase in oil prices and a downturn in the economy. However, he observed that these impacts were not as bad as he had predicted.

Speaking about the situation, Trump recalled, “I said, you know, if I do that, oil prices will go up, the economy will go down a little bit. I thought it would be worse, much worse actually. I thought there was a chance it could be much worse.” He added that the economic effects were “not bad and it’s going to be over with pretty soon.”

Economy Booming Before Iran Tensions

Trump highlighted the strong performance of the U.S. Economy during his term, pointing to the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching 50,000 and the S&P 500 hitting 7,000. He attributed this success to his administration’s policies, noting that these market milestones were achieved much faster than many experts had predicted. “The Dow just hit 50,000 a couple of weeks ago,” Trump said.

“They said that couldn’t happen for four years. It wouldn’t happen in my term. It’s such an outrageous thing because I said it would happen.”

He further elaborated on the positive economic conditions, stating, “Everything was going great, the economy was great, oil prices were very low. Gasoline was dropping too.

I mean, we had $1.90, $1.95. We had great everything.” This context, he suggested, made the decision to confront Iran more palatable from an economic standpoint.

Iran as a Global Threat

Trump characterized Iran as a substantial threat to global security, particularly in the Middle East. He asserted that most countries agreed with his assessment of Iran’s destabilizing influence. “Iran is a serious threat to the world, to the Middle East and to the world,” Trump stated.

“And everybody agrees with me. I think virtually every country agrees with me on that.”

The decision to take action was aimed at mitigating this perceived threat. “So I wanted to put out that fire,” he explained. He also mentioned that the Prime Minister of an unnamed country agreed with his stance, considering Iran’s actions to be “terrible.”

Military Actions Against Iran

Trump detailed the extent of the military operations undertaken against Iran. He claimed that the Iranian military capabilities, including its navy, air force, and leadership, had been significantly degraded.

“We’ve obliterated the Navy. We’ve obliterated there just about everything there is to obliterate, including leadership,” Trump asserted.

He described the situation as one where U.S. Forces could operate freely without facing opposition. “The Navy is gone, their air force’s gone, their anti-aircraft equipment is gone. We’re flying wherever we want.

We have no nobody even shooting at us,” he said. He also noted the elimination of Iranian leadership, stating, “And as you know, their leadership is gone.

Their leaders are gone. They pick new leaders, they’re…” The transcript ends abruptly here.

No Plans for Troop Deployment

Addressing concerns about deploying U.S. Troops to the region, Trump explicitly denied any such intentions. When asked if he planned to lift sanctions on Iranian oil or send more troops to the Middle East, he responded firmly. “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere,” Trump declared.

He added a note of caution, suggesting that if he were planning troop movements, he would not disclose them. “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you,” he remarked. His focus remained on using economic pressure and military deterrence rather than a sustained troop presence.

Looking Ahead

The former president’s remarks provide insight into his administration’s strategic thinking regarding Iran and its perceived economic resilience. The effectiveness and long-term consequences of these actions continue to be subjects of analysis for international relations experts.

Source: Trump thought economic impact of Iran war 'would be worse' (YouTube)