Trump suggests regime change could ‘Make Iran Great Again’
Donald Trump raised the possibility of “regime change” in Iran following the US bombing of its nuclear facilities, in comments that defied the administration’s insistence that its goals for the operation were limited.
“It’s not politically correct to use the term, “Regime Change,” but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!,” the US president wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday.
Trump’s comments towards Tehran come after top US officials said earlier in the day that they were not seeking a different government in Iran.
The US president said in a separate post the damage to Iran’s nuclear sites “is said to be ‘monumental’ and that the “hits were hard and accurate”.
He also thanked the pilots of the B-2 Spirit bombers that were involved in the US air strikes for “a job well done” and confirmed they had “just landed, safely” in Missouri, the state where they started their mission more than a day ago.
Oil price jumps to 5-month high after US strikes Iran
Oil prices jumped to a five-month high after the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, increasing the likelihood that Tehran will respond by attacking energy infrastructure in the region or shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, soared as much as 5.7 per cent as trading began in London on Sunday night, but cut its gains minutes later to about 4 per cent to trade at $80 a barrel. US marker West Texas Intermediate rose by a similar margin to $76.83.
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Dollar climbs as currency markets resume trading after US strikes
The US dollar strengthened as investors headed for relatively safer currencies after the US strikes on Iran.
An index of the greenback against other currencies rose 0.3 per cent in early trading on Monday in Asia. The euro was down 0.3 per cent against the dollar at $1.149.
The US currency, which usually fares well during times of elevated global geopolitical tensions, gained 0.5 per cent against a basket of peers last week.