Trump says Iran will never get nuclear weapons, defends pressure campaign

President Donald Trump said Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, defending his administration's pressure campaign against Tehran and signaling Washington could intensify its actions if necessary. Trump stated he is doing what previous presidents should have done, claiming "we've knocked the hell out of them, and we may go a little further." He asserted many patriots support his aggressive strategy despite potential criticism. In a Truth Social post, Trump accused Iran of manufacturing crises to raise oil prices before US midterm elections, claiming more oil flows through the Hormuz Strait than before the conflict. He labeled Tehran an "evil regime" and alleged 75,000 protesters have been killed in less than seven months.