Trump Threatens Iran Strikes, Tests Oil Peace Trades

President Donald Trump told the New York Times on Sunday he would restart military attacks on Iran or claim 20% of Middle East revenues if Tehran fails to finalize a nuclear accord. The warning came days after Washington and Iran reached a preliminary deal. A signing ceremony is set for Friday in Switzerland.

Trump said the agreement would make the Strait of Hormuz "permanently toll free." He argued he had saved Israel from nuclear obliteration, rejecting objections from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has long called for dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure entirely.

Crude oil fell below $85 a barrel last week on the initial peace announcement. The dollar slipped as traders priced in lower geopolitical risk. Trump's threat now puts those moves in question. The Friday ceremony will test whether the deal holds.

Netanyahu's opposition adds diplomatic friction. The Israeli leader has not endorsed the current framework. Trump's framing of the deal as a rescue suggests he expects Netanyahu to come around, though that is far from certain.

The New York Times broke the interview. The newspaper's stock page carries an Alpha Score of 50/100, a neutral reading that reflects steady but unspectacular performance in a sector facing structural headwinds.