US President Donald Trump on 13 May declared that Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon" and claimed Tehran's military had been "wiped out," warning that the country would either agree to a deal or face further destruction. Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing aboard Marine One, Trump defended his administration's handling of the ongoing conflict and argued that oil prices and inflation would stabilise once the war ends.

Trump's Core Warning to Tehran

"We'll win it peacefully or otherwise," Trump said. "Their Navy's gone, their Air Force is gone, every single element of their war machine is gone." The President maintained that Tehran had already suffered decisive military losses, adding: "They're defeated militarily and they'll either do the right thing or we'll finish the job."

Trump repeatedly stressed that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon was his administration's overriding priority, even above concerns about market volatility or rising consumer prices. "If Iran has a nuclear weapon, the whole world would be in trouble," he said.

Oil Markets and Economic Outlook

Trump predicted a "gusher of oil" would flood global markets once the conflict concludes, claiming the blockade around Iran was "100 per cent effective" and that hundreds of oil tankers were waiting to move. "As soon as this war is over, you're going to see oil prices drop," he said, adding that the stock market — which he described as already "at the highest point in history" — would "go through the roof."

He also dismissed criticism that the conflict had fuelled inflation, arguing that inflation had stood at 1.7 per cent before the war began and characterising current price increases as temporary. The remarks come as oil traders have closely monitored shipping disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global crude exports.

Xi Jinping, Pakistan, and NATO

When asked whether Chinese President Xi Jinping could help bring Iran back to negotiations, Trump said: "He could. I mean, it might be. I don't think we need any help with Iran to be honest with you." The response signals Washington's preference to manage the crisis bilaterally rather than through multilateral diplomatic channels.

Trump also offered rare praise for Pakistan's leadership during the interaction. "The field marshal and the prime minister of Pakistan have been absolutely great," he said, without elaborating further. In the same breath, he turned critical of NATO, claiming the alliance "was not there when we wanted them" and asserting: "We don't need NATO."

Broader Context and What's Next

The remarks come amid continuing tensions in West Asia that have unsettled global energy markets and intensified diplomatic engagement among major powers. This is not the first time Trump has framed the Iran conflict in economic terms — his administration has consistently argued that a swift resolution would deliver a peace dividend to US consumers and global markets alike.

Notably, Trump's sweeping claims about Iran's military destruction have not been independently verified, and the trajectory of any potential negotiations remains unclear. Whether Tehran responds to the pressure with diplomacy or escalation will be the defining variable for global energy stability in the weeks ahead.