Trump to Kurdistan24: US Will Never Abandon Its Allies as Forces Leave Iraq
US president says Iran will not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, while predicting lower fuel prices after the war and warning that Iran’s proxies would fall with Tehran
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — US President Donald Trump told Kurdistan24 on Thursday that the United States would never abandon its allies, responding to a question from Kurdistan24 Washington Bureau Chief Rahim Rashidi following the completion of the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Responding to other journalists at the White House, Trump also addressed the conflict with Iran, saying Tehran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons and arguing that there is broad agreement on preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed state.
“Iran cannot have nuclear weapons,” Trump said, stressing that “everybody is 100 percent” in agreement that Iran should not possess such weapons.
The president also spoke about the Strait of Hormuz, saying that the volume of oil currently passing through the strategic waterway is higher than at any other time.
Trump said fuel prices would fall significantly once the war between the United States and Iran ends, linking the future of energy markets to the conclusion of the conflict.
“If Iran ends, its proxies end too,” Trump said, referring to Iran-backed armed groups operating across the region.
His remarks came one day after the United States formally completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, ending its direct military presence there after more than two decades.
The Pentagon has said the withdrawal marks the end of the US-led military mission against ISIS in Iraq, while Washington is expected to continue supporting Iraq through other forms of security cooperation, including intelligence and training.
The withdrawal has raised questions over the future of US-Iraq and US-Kurdistan Region security ties, particularly as Iraqi and Kurdish authorities assume greater responsibility for countering remaining ISIS threats and addressing other security challenges.
Trump’s comments also come amid continuing confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz has become a central flashpoint in the conflict, with the waterway remaining critical to global energy supplies.
Recent US statements have maintained that commercial vessels continue to transit the strait, while Iranian officials have disputed Washington’s characterization of the waterway as fully open.
In a separate interview with Time published Thursday, Trump indicated that the possibility of renewed US military action against Iran remained on the table after the November midterm elections.
The Associated Press reported that Trump suggested airstrikes could resume after the Nov. 3 elections, while other reporting from the interview said he continued to rule out Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
The comments add to a series of recent statements by Trump concerning Iran and its nuclear program. In February, Trump told Kurdistan24 directly that Tehran could not possess nuclear weapons and said Washington had not made a final decision on its next steps if negotiations failed.
The US withdrawal from Iraq comes as Washington and Baghdad seek to redefine their relationship beyond the Coalition's direct military mission.