President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has no regrets about launching the war against Iran and would make the same decision again, arguing that military action was necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Speaking with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, Trump defended his handling of the conflict even as the war has stretched into its seventh month, driven up energy prices and become an increasingly prominent issue ahead of the November midterm elections.

“I don’t believe in the word regret. You can always question yourself a little bit. A few people have asked me that. If I had it to do again, I’d do exactly as I did. I took out their nuclear capability.”

.@POTUS: "I don't believe in the word 'regret.'" pic.twitter.com/l1ayOV09oO

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 10, 2026

Trump said he believed the consequences of allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon would have been far more dangerous than those resulting from the war, contending that Tehran would have been willing to use such a weapon against Israel, other countries in the Middle East and potentially the United States.

“Supposing we were cruising and all of a sudden Iran has a nuclear weapon. They would use it. They’re crazy. I deal with them. They’re crazy. And they would use it,” he said. “They would have wiped out Israel. They would have wiped out the Middle East. And they would have started hitting a couple of our cities.”

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes and that it is not seeking a nuclear weapon. The United States and Israel have disputed Tehran’s assurances and have cited Iran’s nuclear activities as a central justification for military action.

Trump also pointed to Wall Street as evidence that the American economy has remained resilient despite the conflict, even as oil prices have climbed amid continued fighting and disruptions surrounding critical Middle Eastern shipping routes.

“The stock market right now is at the all-time high….during this whole little conflict, we call it a conflict, the stock market’s at an all-time high. The highest it’s ever been. Much higher than when I started. You know, when I started it was at 49,000. Now it’s at 53. It’s going to be 54 pretty soon. It’s going up. Continues to go up. Oil went up.”

Energy prices have nevertheless emerged as one of the most visible economic consequences of the conflict. Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel this week amid escalating U.S.-Iran hostilities and renewed concerns about shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

During the interview, Trump also accused Iran of attempting to influence the upcoming American midterm elections because Tehran believes a change in political control in Washington could produce a more favorable U.S. policy.

“They’re trying to do anything possible to get me out, because they think the Democrats will let them essentially have a nuclear weapon. They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump has increasingly connected the course of the Iran war with the November elections. He said earlier this week that he expects the conflict to end after the midterms, while maintaining that Iran is trying to hold out in hopes of a change in the political environment in Washington.

The President’s declaration that he would make the same decision again came as tensions have intensified over Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain complex near Natanz.

Trump warned Tehran about the site during his appearance Wednesday at the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, saying American officials had detected activity there.

“We notice there’s a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute, because we will have to hit them very hard,” Trump said.

Pickaxe Mountain is located near Iran’s badly damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility and contains two deeply buried tunnel complexes. Unlike several other Iranian nuclear facilities, the underground complex has not been struck during the current war.

Trump has been publicly threatening possible military action against Pickaxe Mountain since at least July, repeatedly warning that the United States will not permit Iran to use the site to preserve or rebuild its nuclear capabilities.

Those concerns received additional attention Thursday when International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that the U.N. nuclear watchdog has observed signs of new activity around the complex.

“There are some indications that there is movement around this construction site,” Grossi said. “We don’t have any concrete information as to activities that may be taking place there.”

The IAEA has not inspected the underground facility directly and is instead relying on remote imagery to assess developments there.

A separate satellite-imagery analysis released this week by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found a significant increase in construction at Pickaxe Mountain during 2026. Researchers reported reinforcement of tunnel entrances, road paving and other work around the sprawling underground facility.

Trump issued a similar warning about the facility last week.

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he told reporters at the Oval Office, adding, “We may hit Pickaxe very soon…if there was anything going on with Pickaxe.”

The President’s comments Thursday made clear that, despite the length and cost of the conflict and questions about its effect on the approaching midterm elections, he continues to stand behind his original decision to launch military action against Iran.

“If I had it to do again, I’d do exactly as I did,” Trump said.