U.S. President Donald Trump has put The Wall Street Journal on blast after the newspaper claimed he ‘declared premature victory in Iran.’
This comes after an opinion piece from the WSJ’s editorial board had suggested that Tehran was ‘still a threat to the Strait and may retain enriched uranium.’
The President posted to Truth Social: ‘The Wall Street Journal, one of the worst and most inaccurate “Editorial Boards” in the World, stated that I “declared premature victory in Iran.” Actually, it is a Victory, and there’s nothing ‘premature’ about it!’
‘Because of me, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON and, very quickly, you’ll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran and, to me, it makes no difference, either way,’ he added.
‘The Wall Street Journal will, as usual, live to eat their words. They are always quick to criticize, but never to admit when they’re wrong, which is most of the time!’
Trump, in a separate Truth post, addressed one of WSJ’s concerns, the notion that Iran would start charging a toll on anyone trying to get through the Strait of Hormuz.
‘There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!’
He then added: ‘Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!’
The WSJ Editorial Board wrote: ‘Freedom of navigation has been a bedrock U.S. principle for centuries. China would be pleased if that principle were abandoned in case it has designs on the straits of Taiwan or Malacca. If Iran retains a veto over traffic in the Strait, that would count as a US defeat.’
They also noted that Iran’s ten-point plan – which Trump has disputed the accuracy of – is ‘miles away from Mr. Trump’s demands.’
‘The unfortunate truth is that Mr. Trump put himself in this position. His inconsistent rhetoric on the war—claims of victory amid threats of unleashing ‘Hell’ and an end to Iran’s ‘civilization’—raised global fears and undermined support at home and abroad,’ they added.
‘The next test for Mr. Trump will be whether he takes his two-week cease-fire deadline seriously. If he does, and Iran plays its usual games, then he really will have to ‘finish the job.’
On Tuesday, Trump declared he’d reached a two-week ceasefire with Tehran in a deal negotiated with Pakistan.
The US is set to send JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Islamabad on Saturday to start negotiating with Iranian leaders.
