Trump says Iran was weeks away from nuclear weapon, defends US action

US President Donald Trump said Iran was three to four weeks away, or possibly sooner, from developing a nuclear weapon, arguing that the US had to act to prevent a wider conflict in the Middle East.

"I said that we just had the greatest numbers in history, but we're going to have to take a little detour because Iran is about to have a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

"They were three to four weeks away, maybe sooner. And if they have a nuclear weapon, the whole game is over. We can't let them have it," he added.


Trump said the US needed to "put out the fire in the Middle East" to prevent Iran from targeting Israel and other parts of the region and potentially the US.

He also pointed to oil prices, saying concerns that crude could rise to $300-$400 a barrel had not materialised.

"They said oil would go to $300 and $400 a barrel. Well, today it's at $90," Trump said.

He also said more oil had been taken out of the Strait of Hormuz in recent days and claimed Iran had not been able to get a single ship through the strait "in months."

Trump's comments came as he defended the US approach to the conflict and argued that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon was necessary to avoid a broader escalation in the region.