President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States will acquire all of Iran’s “nuclear dust” — his term for enriched uranium left over after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last June — without any exchange of money.
“The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear ‘Dust,’ created by our great B2 Bombers – No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form,” Trump wrote in a series of posts on Truth Social.
Israel ‘prohibited’ from bombing Lebanon
Trump also declared that Israel has been barred from carrying out further strikes on Lebanon. “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!” he wrote.
Trump added that the Iran deal is separate from the Lebanon situation, but said the US would independently address what he called “the Hezboolah situation” — misspelling Hezbollah — in an appropriate manner.
Sea mines being cleared from Hormuz
Trump further stated that Iran, with American assistance, “has removed, or is removing, all sea mines” from the Strait of Hormuz. The US had previously accused Iran of placing underwater mines in the waterway to threaten or destroy passing ships.
Iran, upon announcing the strait’s reopening, directed vessels to use a designated route through the far north of the narrow shipping lane citing the need to avoid remaining mines. The American Navy had conducted at least one mine-clearing mission through the strait a week earlier.
Iran ‘agreed to never close Hormuz again,’ Trump claims
Trump also claimed that Iran has committed to never closing the Strait of Hormuz again. “It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!” he said, speaking nine days into a two-week ceasefire with Tehran.
The strait carries roughly 20% of global crude oil supplies from Persian Gulf ports. When the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February, Tehran retaliated by targeting ships and ports in the region, effectively blocking the waterway.
Tehran, however, has not publicly confirmed any commitment to refrain from threatening shipping in the Persian Gulf going forward.
Oil prices plunge, US stocks hit record highs
Markets responded sharply to the developments. US crude oil fell 10% to nearly $85 per barrel, while international Brent crude dropped more than 8% to around $90 per barrel. Heating oil futures plummeted 13%, and wholesale RBOB gasoline futures slid 7%.
US equity markets surged at the opening bell, with the S&P 500 rising 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite jumping 1% both setting new all-time highs in early trading.
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