{"id":59764,"date":"2026-03-14T00:38:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T04:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-slams-media-over-iran-success-as-oil-prices-near-120\/59764\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T00:38:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T04:38:24","slug":"trump-slams-media-over-iran-success-as-oil-prices-near-120","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-slams-media-over-iran-success-as-oil-prices-near-120\/59764\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Slams Media Over Iran &#8220;Success&#8221; as Oil Prices Near $120"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>President <a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/live\/trump-stock-market\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Trump\">Trump<\/a> claims &quot;Operation Epic Fury&quot; has decimated 80% of Iran&#39;s missile launchers and the majority of its naval power since the conflict began on February 28.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Brent crude oil prices have surged from $70 to over $110 per barrel, with some futures hitting $120 following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin (<a href=\"\/stock\/LMT\">LMT<\/a>) and RTX Corporation (<a href=\"\/stock\/RTX\">RTX<\/a>), are seeing increased demand as the U.S. military reports striking over 15,000 targets in two weeks.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Market volatility remains high as the administration&#39;s &quot;victory&quot; declarations clash with reports of ongoing retaliatory drone strikes and regional instability.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>President Donald <a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/live\/trump-stock-market\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Trump\">Trump<\/a> took to social media early Saturday to criticize major news outlets, alleging that the &quot;fake media&quot; is intentionally underreporting the successes of the U.S. military in Iran. The comments come as <strong>Operation Epic Fury<\/strong> enters its third week, a campaign that has seen unprecedented air and missile strikes across the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n<p>Trump emphasized that the American army has achieved &quot;major strides&quot; that are &quot;ahead of schedule,&quot; specifically citing the destruction of Iranian drone manufacturing sites and communications infrastructure. <em>The administration&#39;s rhetoric suggests a desire for a quick &quot;off-ramp,&quot; though military officials signal that high-intensity strikes are likely to continue.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Energy Markets and the $120 Barrel<\/h2>\n<p>The conflict has triggered a massive supply shock in the energy sector, with <strong>Brent crude<\/strong> jumping nearly <strong>15%<\/strong> in the last ten days. The United States Oil Fund (<a href=\"\/stock\/USO\">USO<\/a>) has seen significant inflows as investors hedge against the closure of the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, a chokepoint responsible for <strong>20% of global oil supply<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. gasoline prices have spiked above <strong>$4.00 per gallon<\/strong>, the highest level since late 2023, complicating the domestic inflation outlook. While energy giants like ExxonMobil (<a href=\"\/stock\/XOM\">XOM<\/a>) and Chevron (<a href=\"\/stock\/CVX\">CVX<\/a>) have seen share prices rise alongside crude, analysts warn that sustained high prices could dampen broader consumer spending.<\/p>\n<h2>Defense Sector Gains Amid Geopolitical Risk<\/h2>\n<p>Defense stocks have become a primary focus for investors seeking to capitalize on increased military outlays. Lockheed Martin (<a href=\"\/stock\/LMT\">LMT<\/a>) and Northrop Grumman (<a href=\"\/stock\/NOC\">NOC<\/a>) have outperformed the broader <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/markets\/sp500\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"snp500 today\">S&amp;P 500<\/a> as the Pentagon confirms the use of a wide range of advanced munitions and unmanned systems.<\/p>\n<p>RTX Corporation (<a href=\"\/stock\/RTX\">RTX<\/a>) has also seen a boost in sentiment following the successful deployment of missile defense platforms in the region. <em>Market analysts suggest that even if military activity winds down soon, the need to replenish depleted stockpiles will drive multi-year demand for these defense contractors.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Uncertainty and Economic Outlook<\/h2>\n<p>Despite the President&#39;s claims of a &quot;short-term excursion,&quot; the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/markets\/dowjones\/today.aspx\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Dow Jones Today\">Dow Jones<\/a> Industrial Average<\/strong> has faced downward pressure, dropping over <strong>400 points<\/strong> in single-session volatility earlier this month. Investors remain wary of a &quot;downside case&quot; where a prolonged conflict leads to a global recession driven by energy shortages.<\/p>\n<p>The White House continues to maintain that the U.S. economy will &quot;quickly surge&quot; once the operation is complete. However, with <strong>13 U.S. service members<\/strong> confirmed dead and regional allies like Israel vowing to continue strikes &quot;without any time limit,&quot; the path to a stable market environment remains unclear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways President Trump claims &quot;Operation Epic Fury&quot; has decimated 80% of Iran&#39;s missile launchers and the majority of its 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