US President Donald Trump said the United States had effectively won the early phase of its war with Iran but indicated military operations would continue.
Speaking at a rally in Kentucky, Trump told supporters “you never like to say too early you won. We won,” adding that “in the first hour it was over.”
He also claimed the United States had “virtually destroyed Iran” and said American forces had eliminated 58 Iranian naval ships. Trump signalled the conflict may continue, stating “we don’t want to leave early… we’ve got to finish the job.”
The war began on 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iranian targets. Iran has since responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases.
Amid rising energy market volatility, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the United States will release 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Wright said the release forms part of a 400-million-barrel coordinated action by the International Energy Agency and will begin next week, taking around 120 days to deliver.
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