Trump taps strategic oil reserve to drop gas prices as Iran War sparks strikes across Middle East

83 POINTS IN ONE GAME, EVEN SURPASSING KOBE. SURPASSING KOBE. >>> AND DRAMA ON THE DIAMOND. DIAMOND. THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC C UPSET. CLASSIC UPSET LEAVING TEAM USA'S'S FATE HANGING IN THE. BALANCE. NIGHTLY NEWS STARTS RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW. >>> THIS IS NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH. >>> THIS IS NBC NIGHGHTLY NEWS WITH TOM LLAMAS. NIGHTLY NEWS WITH TOM LLAMAS. >>> AND GOOD. >>> AND GOOD EVENING. WE BEGIN TONIGHT. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE PRESIDENTS EMERGENCY Y MOVE TO. EMERGENCY MOVE TO SLOW THE SURGING GAS PRICES IN AMAMERICA. PRICES IN AMERICA. RESIDENT TRUMP LATE TOTODAY ANNOUNCING HE. RERESIDENT TRUMP LATE TODAY ANNOUNCING HE PLANS TO TAP INTO. TODAY ANNOUNCING HE PLANS TO TAP INTO THE STRATEGIC. PLANS TO TAP INTO THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVES, PETROLEUM RESERVES, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY FUEL T THE U.S. STORES. FUEL THE U.S. STORES UP FOR DIRE SITUATIONS. SITUATIONS. IT COMES JUST AS IRAN CROSSES A A NEW.

IT COMES JUST AS IRAN CROSSES A NEW LINE, ATTACKING AT. LINE, ATTACKING AT LEAST THREE SHIPS MOVING THROUGH THE. MOVING THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, A VITAL PASSAGEWAY FOR. VITAL PASSAGEWAY FOR OIL. THIS IS A A TYPE. OIL. THIS IS A TYTYPE HANKER BURNING, A. THIS IS A TYPE HANKER BURNING, A FIRE SMOLDERING. FIRE SMOLDERING INSIDE IT'S HULL. IRAN APPARARENTLY. HITTING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE ON THAT AS WELL. INFRASTRUCTURE ON N THAT AS WELL. YOU SEE IT HERE. YOU SEE IT HERE. NEW VIDEO SHSHOWING THE MOMENT A DRONE. NEW W VIDEO SHOWING THE MOMENT A DRONE SLAMS INTO AN OIL. THE MOMENT A DRONE SLAMS INTO AN OIL DEPOT IN OMAN, SLAMS INTO AN OIL DEPOT IN OMAN, CAUSING THAT MASSIVE. CAUSING THAT MASSIVE EXPLOSION. OIL IS NOW CLEARLY A. IN. MAJOR FRONT IN IRAN'S PREFERRED TARGET IN THTHIS WAR, TARGET IN THIS WAR, WITH A NEW COMMITMENT TODODAY. COMMITMENT TODAY FROM DOZENS OF COUNTRIES TO RELELEASE. COUNTRIES TO RELEASE A RECORD-SETTING AMAMOUNT OF OIL INTO. AMOUNT OF OIL INTO THE MARKETPLACE, HOPING TO EASE THE. THE MARKETPLACE, HOPING TO O EASE THE PRICES.

HOPING TO EASE THE PRICES. WE'LL BREAK DOWN HOW. PRICES. WE'LL BREAK DOWN HOW MUCH IMPACT THAT. MUCH IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE FOR DRIVERS HERE IN THE. WILL HAVE FOR DRIVERS HERE IN THE U.U.S. ALL THAT AS WAR. U.S. ALL THAT AS WAR RAGES ON SEVERAL MIDDLE EAST FRONTSTS. MIDDLE EAST FRONTS. THIS NEW VIDEO SHOWING ISRARAELI. BOMBS DROPPING RELENTLESSLY ON SOUTHERN LEBANON. RELENTLESSLY ON N SOUTHERN LEBANON TONIGHT, TARGETING. SOUTHERN LEBANON TONIGHT, TARGETING HEZBOLLAH. HEZBOLLAH. WE'VE GOT THIS COVERERED FROM ALL. COVERED FROM ALL ANGLES TONIGHT, AND D WE START WITH. ANGLES TONIGHT, AND WE START WITH GARRETT HAKE AT THE. WE START WITH GARRETT HAKE AT THE WHITE HOUSE. WHITE HOUSE. >> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE THE DRONE ABOVOVE. >> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE THTHE DRONE ABOVE THE OIL DEPOT IN. SEE THE DRONE ABOVE THE OIL DEPOT IN OMAN BEFORE IT MAKES.

THE OIL DEPOT IN OMAN BEFORE IT MAKES IMPACT. IMPACT. AS THE IRANIAN REGIMEME UNLEASHES NEW. REGIME UNLEASHES NEW ATTACKS ON SHIPS IN THE STSTRAIT OF. ATTACKS ON S SHIPS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, INCLUDING. THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, INCLUDING THIS THAI CARGO. THIS THAI CARGO VESSEL. IRAN VOWING TO DRIVE. VESSEL. IRAN VOWING TO DRIVEVE WILL PRICES TO $200. WILL PRICES TO $200 A BARREL BY STOPPING TANKERS. A BARREL BY STOPPING TANKERS FROM USING THE STRAIT. STOPPING TANKERS FROM USING THE STRAIT . AND NOW, IN AN. FROM USING THE STRAIT . AND NOW, IN AN URGEGENT EFFORT TO. URGENT EFFORT TO KEEP OIL PRICES DOWNWN, THE. DOWN, THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY AND ITS. , AGENCY AND ITSTS MEMBER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S., INCLUDING THE U.S., AGREEING TO RELEASE 400 MILLION BARRELS. AGREEING TO RELEASE 400 MIMILLION BARRELS OF OIL FROM. 400 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL FROM EMERGENCY STOCKS. EMERGENCY STOCKS TONIGHT, OIL PRICES HOLDING G STEADY, TONIGHT, OIL PRICES HOLDING STEADY, AROUND $87 A BARREL,

HOLDING STEADY, AROUND $87 A BARREL, WITH THE PRESIDENT. WITH THE PRESIDENT EXPLAINING WHY HE'S TAPPING INTO THE. TAPPING INTO THE U.S. STRATEGIC OIL RESERVES. RESERVES. >> WE'LL REDUCE IT A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT. >> WE'LL REDUCE IT A LITTLE BIT, , AND THAT BRINGS THE PRICES. BRINGS THE PRICES DOWN. WE H HAVE TO GET RID. DOWN. WE HAVE TO GET R RID OF THE EVIL. OF THE EVIL. THERE IS GREAT EVIL TAKING P PLACE IN. THERE IS GREAT EVIL TAKING PLACE IN IRAN, AS YOU KNOW. TAKING PLACE IN IRAN, AS YOU KNOW.W. AND OUR MILITARY'S. BEEN UNBELIEVABLE. >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT RECENTLY. PRESIDENT RECENTLY MOURNING THE IRANIAN REGIME A AGAINST. MOMOURNING THE IRANIAN REGIME AGAINST BLOCKING THE STRAIT, REGIME AGAINST BLOCKING THE STRAIT, JUST 20 NAUTICAL. BLOCKING THE STRAIT, JUST 20 NAUTICAL MILES WIDE AT ITS. A. NARROWEST POINT, A CRITICAL CORRIDOR FOR R MORE THAN 20% OF. CRITICAL CORRIDOR R FOR MORE THAN 20% OF THE WORLD OIL. THE WORLD OIL. >> IF IRAN DOES ANYTHING TO DO THAT, >> IF IRAN DOES ANYTHING TO DO T THAT, THEY'LL GET HIT AT A.

THEY'LL GET HIT AT A MUCH, MUCH HARDER LEVEL. MUCH, MUCH HARDER LEVEL. >> Reporter: IRAN. >> Reporter: IRAN TURNING TO UNLEASHING THEHESE NEW. UNLEASHING THESE NEW ATTACKS ON OIL AFTER THE PENTAGONON SAYS IT. THE PENTAGON SAYS IT HAS DECIMATED THE IRANIAN MILITATARY. HAS DECIMATED THE IRANIAN MILITARY. >> TO DATE, WE HAVE. IRANIAN MILITARY. >> TO DATE, WE HAVE STRUCKCK MORE THAN. STRUCK MORE THAN 5500 TARGETS INSIDE IRIRAN. 5500 TARGETS INSIDE IRAN. >> Reporter: >> Reporter: PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING H HE WILL END. PRESIDENT TRUMUMP SAYING HE WILL END THE WAR, QUOTE, SAYING HE WILL END THE WAR, QUOTE, SOON, BECAUSE. SOON, BECAUSE THERE'S PRACTICALLY NOTHINING LEFT TO. TARGET. NBC'S PETER ALEXANDER WITH THE. NBC'S PETER ALEXANANDER WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY. ALEXANDER WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY. >>>> WHAT MORE DO YOU. >> WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED TO DO MILITARILY FOR THIS. NEED TO DO MILITARILYLY FOR THIS OPERATION TO END? MILITARILY FOR THIS OPERATION TO END? >> MORE OF THE S SAME, OPERATION TO END? >> MORE OF THE SAME,E, AND WE'LL SEE HOW. AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT ALL COMES OUT. RIGHT NOW, THEY ARARE,

RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE, THEY'VE LOST THEIR NAVY, THEY'VE LOST. THEY'VE LOST THEIR NAVY, THEY'VE LOST THEIR AIR FORCE. NAVY, THEY'VE LOST THEIR AIR FORCE. THEY HAVE NO. THEIR AIR FORCE. THEY HAVE NO ANTIAIRCRAFT. THEY HAVE NONO ANTIAIRCRAFT APPARATUS AT ALL. ANTIAIRCRAFT APPARATUS AT ALL. THEY HAVE NO RADADAR. APPARATUS AT ALL. THEY HAVE NO RADAR. THEIR LEADERS ARE. THEY HAVE NO RADAR. THEIEIR LEADERS ARE GONE. THEIR LEADERS ARE GONE. >> Reporter: M MOST. >> Reporter: MOST REPUBLICANS SUPPORT THE E OPERATION. REPUBLICANS SUPPORT THE OPERATION. >> THE PRESIDENT'S. >> THE PRESIDENT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THOSE GOALS, BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THOSE GOALS, ABOUT DESTROYING THE. ABOUT DESTROYING THE MISSILES AND THE DRONES, DESTROROYING. MISSILES A AND THE DRONES, DESTROYING THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM. >> Reporter: BUT THE PRESIDENT FACING PRESSURE FROM SOME. PRESSURE FROM SOME ALLIES. >> RAN ON N NO MORE. ALLIES. >> RAN ON NO MORE WARS, AND THESE. WARS, AND THESE STUPID, SENSELESS WARS, AND THENEN WE. STUPID, SENSELESS WARS, AND THEN W WE HAVE ONE THAT WE.

WARS, , AND THEN WE HAVE ONE THAT WE CAN'T EVEN REALLY. CAN'T EVEN REALLY CLEARLY DEFINED WHY WE DID IT. CLEARLY DEFINED WHY WE DID IT. >> Reporter: ALL AS. WE DID IT. >> Reporter: ALL A AS INSIDE IRAN, A TOP. >> Reporter: ALL AS INSIDE IRAN, A TOP SECURITY OFFICIAL. SECURITY OFFICIAL NOW THREATENING THE POLICE ARERE READY TO. POLICE ARE READY TO SHOOT ANYONE WHO PROTESTS T THE IRANIAN. SHOOT ANYONE WHO PROTESTS THE IRANIAN REGIME AFTER A. REGIME AFTER A DEADLY CRACKDOWN IN JANUARY. JANUARY. THE TONIGHT, A KEY ADVISER TO ISRSRAEL'S. THE TONIGHT,T, A KEY ADVISER TO ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER IS. ADVISER TO ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER IS HOPEFUL IRANIANS. HOPEFUL IRANIANS WILL TAKE TO THE STREETS AGAIN. WILL TAKE TO THEHE STREETS AGAIN. >> OVER 85% OF THE. STREETS AGAIN. >> OVER 85% OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE. >> OVER 85% OF THE IRANIAN PEOPOPLE DETEST THE IRANIAN. DETEST THE IRANIANAN REGIME. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE. REGIME. ALL OF THESE P PEOPLE HAVE THE ONCE-IN-A-. HAVE THE ONCE-IN-A- LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT.

LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO DO O THE RIGHT THING, AND I'M SURE. TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND I'M SURE THEY'LL DO IT. THING, AND I'M SURE THEY'LL DO IT. >> Reporter: GARRETT. THEY'LL DO IT. >> Reporter: GARRETT JOINS US NOW LIVE. >> Reporter: GARRETT JOINS US NOWOW LIVE FROM THE WHITE. HOUSE, AND GARRETT, ANOTHER HEADLINE, AND WE STILL HAVE. ANOTHER HEADLINE, AND WE STITILL HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEARD. NOT SEEN OR HEARD FROM IRAN'S NEW SUSUPREME LEADER, AND. SUPREME LEADER, AND THE REASON MAY NOT JUST BE SECURITY. JUST BE SECURITY. >> YEAH, TOM. ANOTHER FACTCTOR IS. ANOTHER FACTOR IS THAT HE WAS APPARENTLY INJURED. APPARENTLY INJURED ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE CONFLICICT. OF THE CONFLICT. THAT ACCORDING TO TEHRAN'S AMBMBASSADOR. THAT ACCORDING TO TEHRAN'S AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS, AND THE. TEHRAN'S AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS, AND THEHE SON OF IRAN'S. SON OF IRAN'S PRESIDENT AT A GOVERNMENT RALLY ON. MONDAY. HE WAS REPRESENTED BY JUST A PHOTO ON. HE WAS REPRESENTED BY JUST A PHOTO ON STSTAGE. BY JUST A PHOTO ON STAGE. TOM?

TOM? >> ALL RIGHT, GARRETT HAKEKE FOR US. GARRETT HAKE FOR US TONIGHT. GARRETT, W WE THANK. GARRETT, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>>>> WITH THE PROMISE. >>> WITH THE PROMISE OF MAJOR RELEASES OF EMERGENCY OIOIL. EMERGENCY OIL SUPPLIES, I WANT TO BRING IN CHRISTITINE. BRING IN CHRISTINE ROMANS. CHCHRISTINE, WHAT WILL. ROMANS. CHRISTINE, WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR. CHRISTINE, WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR DRIVERS? THIS MEAN N FOR DRIVERS? >> OIL ANALYSTS TELL. DRIVERS? >> OIL ANALYSTS TELL MEME GAS PRICES ARE. ME GAS PRICES ARE LIKELY TO GO UP ANYWAY. ANYWAY. BEST CASE SCENARIO HERE, PRICICES RISE. HERE, PRICES RISE MORE SLOWLY THAN THEYEY HAVE BEEN. THEY HAVE BEEN. THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF U.S. CRURUDE. BARREL OF U.S. CRUDE ROSE ALMOST $5.00 TODAY, GAS ALREADY. ROSE ALMOST $5.00 TODADAY, GAS ALREADY UP $0.60 A GALLON. TODAY, GAS ALREADY UP $0.60 A GALLON NATIONWIDE SINCE THE. NATIONWIDE SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. AND THE ANALALYSTS I. WAR BEGAN. AND THE E ANALYSTS I SPOKE WITH SAY $4.00. AND THE ANALYSTS I SPOKE WITH SAY $4.00 A GALLON IS STILL. SPOKE WITH SAY $4.00 A GALLON IS STILL POSSSSIBLE. POSSIBLE. NOW, THE WORLD CONSUMES MORE THAN. S.

CONSUMES MORE THANAN 100 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL EVERY DAY, SO. OF OIL EVERY DAY, SO EVEN A RECORD- SETTING RELEASE OF. EVEN A RECORD- SETTING RELEASE OF 400 0 MILLION, THAT'S. SESETTING RELEASE OF 400 MILLION, THAT'S ONLY FOUR DAYS. 400 MILLION, THAT'S ONLY FOUR DAYS SUPPLY. SUPPLY. EXPERTS TELL ME NOTHING G MATTERS MORE. NOTHING MATTERS MORE THAN GETTING SHIHIPS MOVING AGAIN THROUGH. UZ. MOVING AGAIN THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ THAT USE TO CARRY 20. THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ THAT USE TO CARRY 20 MILLION BARRELS A. MILLION BARRELS A DAY, SO THE ADVICE FOR DRIVERS IS, IF. DAY, SO THE ADVICE FOR DRIVERS ISIS, IF YOU'RE AT THE GAS. YOU'RE AT THE GAS STATION, FILL IT UP TO THE TOP. STATION, FILL IT UP TO THE TOP. >> WE THANK YOU FOR. >> WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. . >>> AND WE HAVE SOME. >>> AND WE HAVE SOME NEW REPORTING TONIGHT ON THAT. TONIGHT ON THAT DEADLY STRIKE ON A SCHOOL I IN IRAN THAT. SCHOOL IN IRAN THAT KILLED 170 PEOPLE. A PRELIMININARY. PENTAGON INVESTIGATION REVEALING THE U.S. INVESTIGATION REVEVEALING THE U.S. IS LIKELY TO BLAME.

IS LIKELY TO BLAME. OUR COURTNEY QB HAS THE LATEST, AND. OUR COURTNEY QB HAS THE LATEST, AND COURTNEY, WHAT DID. THE LATEST, AND COURTNEY, WHAT DID THEY FIND? THEY FIND? >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, TOM. RIGHT, TOM. AN ONGOING U.S. MILITARY. MILITARY INVESTIGATION INTO THAT DEAEADLY STRIKE. THAT DEADLY STRIKE ON AN IRANIAN SCHOOLOL NOW SHOWS THAT THE. NOW SHOWS THAT THE U.S. WAS LIKELY BEBEHIND IT, AND. BEHIND IT, AND RELYING ON OLD INTETELLIGENCE WHEN. SELECTING THAT TARGET. THIS ACCORDING TO. THIS ACCORDING TO FOUR SOURCES FAMILIARAR WITH THOSE. PULMONARY FINDINGS. NOW, SO FAR, IT APPEARS THE. APPEARS THE MUNITIONS STRUCK WHERE E IT INTENDED, BECAUSE IT WAS OUTDATED INTELLIGENCE SHOWING.

INTELLIGENCE SHOWING THAT IT WAS A MILITARY FACACILITY. PREVIOUSLY. THE SCHOOL WAS ON THE SAME COMPOUND IS. THE SCHOOL WAS ON THE SAME COMOMPOUND IS AN OLD IRANIAN. E. AN OLD I IRANIAN MILITARY BASE. THE DEFENSE. MILITARY BASE. THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. INTELLIGENCE AGENCY GATHERED INTEL, INCLUDING FRFROM THE. INCLUDING FROM THE ISRAELIS, AND FOFOUND THE TARGET TO BE. THE TARGET TO BE VALID, SO NOW INFOFORMATION IS.