Trump says Iran war is moving along ‘very well’

President Trump said Thursday that the U.S. is moving expeditiously toward its goals in Iran, hailing American troops’ efforts in the region.

“The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It’s going very well,” Mr. Trump said at a White House event to honor Women’s History Month.

“We’re doing what needs to be done,” the president said. “Should have been done during a 47-year period. It could have been done by a lot of different people. They chose not to do it, but they really are a nation of terror and hate and they are paying a big price right now.”

Mr. Trump’s comments came amid a slew of developments in the Iran war. The State Department announced Tuesday that roughly 47,000 Americans have returned to the U.S. from the Middle East since the war began on Feb. 28.

State Department officials had been urging Americans to leave 14 countries across the Middle East since the start of the war.

Oil jumped to $100 per barrel as the Strait of Hormuz, which borders Iran, remained closed. The increase in oil prices caused the S&P 500 to fall 1.4% and the Dow Jones closed down 1.5%.

In addition, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a fiery first public statement vowing to keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a trade route for 20% of the world’s oil.

The defiant statement, which Iranian media attributed to Mr. Khamenei, also threatened to keep up attacks on U.S. military bases in the region. Though another person read the remarks, a photo of Mr. Khamenei was posted on the TV screen as the statement was broadcast around the world.