Trump Claims King Charles Agrees Iran Must Never Have a Nuclear Weapon

Apr 28, 2026

President Trump claimed at a White House state dinner that King Charles III agrees Iran should never have nuclear weapons, drawing the traditionally apolitical British monarch into a diplomatic controversy during his visit to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The statement comes amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, with Treasury announcing sanctions on April 28, 2026 against 35 entities in Iran's covert financial network and U.S. Central Command reporting 39 vessels redirected under a blockade of Iranian ports. Trump also accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of supporting Iranian nuclear weapons after Merz praised Iran's negotiating skills, while a two-week ceasefire Trump agreed to on April 8, 2026 remains extended following Iranian missile attacks that damaged Gulf energy installations. The controversy unfolds as Britain's Ambassador Sir Christian Turner suggested Israel, not the U.K., now holds the special relationship with America.

U.S.-Iran Military Conflict and Diplomatic Tensions

▪U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded the commercial vessel M/V Blue Star III in the Arabian Sea on April 28, 2026, suspecting it was attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade.
▪The International Committee of the Red Cross president Mirjana Spoljaric arrived in Iran on April 28, 2026 to assess the war's humanitarian consequences.
▪Iran launched waves of missiles and drones targeting Gulf states in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28, 2026.
▪President Trump posted on Truth Social on April 28, 2026 that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thinks it is okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
▪Gulf leaders met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on April 28, 2026 to discuss the ongoing crisis triggered by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Economic Impact: Oil Prices, Gas Costs, and Airline Industry

▪The Nasdaq composite fell 0.9% from its own record on April 28, 2026.
▪Gasoline prices hit a recent high of $4.17 on April 9, 2026.
▪Brent crude oil prices sat around $70 in late February 2026.
▪Gasoline prices rose by $1.20 a gallon between February 28, 2026 and April 28, 2026.
▪The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil to be delivered in June climbed 2.8% to settle at $111.26 on April 28, 2026.
▪The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 25 points, or 0.1%, on April 28, 2026.
▪The S&P 500 fell 0.5% from its latest all-time high on April 28, 2026.
▪The Association of Value Airlines is asking the Trump administration for $2.5 billion to offset rising jet fuel costs.
▪Brent crude oil to be delivered in July rose 2.7% to $104.40 on April 28, 2026.
▪The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States reached $4.18 on April 28, 2026, the highest level since 2022.