President Donald Trump said Monday that stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the administration’s top priority, placing that objective ahead of the lower energy prices Vice President JD Vance emphasized last week as the conflict continued to disrupt global energy markets.
Trump declared that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon “is, and always will be” the administration’s number one goal. His statement came after Vance had identified keeping oil and gasoline affordable for Americans as the administration’s first objective, while also stressing that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later sought to clarify the difference, saying both goals are important to the president. She emphasized the administration’s efforts to stabilize energy markets while making clear that preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon remains Trump’s central priority in the conflict.
Trump’s statement came as the deadline for the June U.S.-Iran memorandum expired without a permanent settlement. The framework was intended to reduce hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, and advance negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
The agreement has since deteriorated, with Washington and Tehran accusing each other of violations and substantive nuclear negotiations remaining stalled. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz also remains heavily restricted, adding pressure to global oil and gas markets.
With the conflict continuing and fuel prices elevated, the administration faces the challenge of protecting American consumers while pursuing its stated objective of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump has repeatedly maintained that the nuclear issue—not economic pressure—is the decisive factor guiding his Iran policy.