WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US benefits from rising oil prices because of its status as the world’s largest oil producer.

“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He said, however, that his primary focus remains on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“Of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stopping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World,” he said.

“I won’t ever let that happen,” Trump added.

Tensions gripped the Middle East after Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, and have so far killed more than 1,300 victims, including Ali Khamenei, the country's former supreme leader, and more than 150 schoolgirls. More than 10,000 people were also injured in the Israeli and US attacks.

Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and several Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Eight US service members have been killed since the war began.