Trump says energy prices in Ireland will ‘drop like a rock’ after Iran war ends

By Rebecca Black, Press Association in Washington DC

U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged that energy prices in Ireland will “drop like a rock” after the war with Iran ends.

The cost of petrol and diesel, as well as home heating oil, has skyrocketed in Ireland since Strait of Hormuz was blocked by Iran in response to the military attacks by the US and Israel.

The Government has said it is monitoring the situation before deciding whether it intervenes with targeted supports to help those who are struggling the most with fuel price hikes.

During a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the White House on St Patrick’s Day, Trump was asked what his message was to Irish people who are paying high fuel prices.

“I think the people in Ireland are very happy that I’m getting rid of – I have a lot of friends from Ireland, they’re very happy that I’m getting rid of – a nuclear power, a nuclear terrorist,” he said.

“And as soon as that war is over, which will be soon, your prices are going to drop like a rock. You watch.”

Earlier in the meeting, Trump said they were “not ready to leave” Iran yet.

“If we left right now, it would take 10 years for them to rebuild. But we’re not ready to leave yet,” he said.

“But we will be leaving in the near future. We’ll be leaving in pretty much the very near future.”