An aerial view of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group as it operated in the Arabian Sea, escorted by two military supply ships and two U.S. Coast Guard vessels, as carrier aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Nine conducted flight operations over the Arabian Sea, February 6, 2026.
AMERICAN CENTCOM | Anadolu | Getty Images
President Donald Trump said Friday it was considering limited military strikes to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.
“I guess I can say I’m thinking about it,” Trump said when asked by a reporter during a White House breakfast with U.S. governors.
Trump said Thursday he would make a decision in the next 10 to 15 days on whether to attack the Islamic Republic. He left open the possibility that an agreement could still be reached with Tehran on its nuclear program.
Trump has previously said an attack on Iran would be “much worse” than the limited strikes the United States launched in June against its nuclear facilities.
Oil prices remained stable on Friday after rising more than 5% this week, as traders priced in the risk of imminent US military action. American crude oil fell 4 cents to close at $66.39 a barrel. World reference Brent rose 10 cents to settle at $71.76 a barrel.
A massive buildup of the US military is underway in the Middle East. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is in the area. A second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, is on its way.
The oil market’s biggest fear is that a conflict between the United States and Iran could lead to a prolonged interruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is a vital chokepoint for the global oil trade. More than 14 million barrels of oil and condensate per day passed through this narrow waterway on average in 2025, according to data from consultancy Kpler, which says that amount represents a third of total global oil exports by sea.
About three-quarters of the oil crossing the strait goes to China, India, Japan and South Korea, according to Kpler.