Welcome to meet the press now.

I'm Kristen Welker in Washington.

The War Against Iran now hitting the one week mark as the administration faces mounting questions about its true military objectives, its claims about civilian casualties,

and its response to soaring energy prices. This morning, President Trump appearing to move the goalposts

when it comes to the U.S. mission in a post on social media calling for Iran's, quote,

unconditional surrender. Today, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt was asked what the president

meant by unconditional surrender. Here's what she said. What the president means is that when he,

as commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to

the United States of America and the goals of Operation Epic Fury has been fully realized,

then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not.

It comes as gas and oil prices are skyrocketing.

At the pump, the average price per gallon is up 34 cents since the war started last week,

and U.S. crude oil settled today at more than $90 per barrel,

rising 35 percent just this week. That is the biggest weekly gain ever recorded, going all the

way back to the inception of the crude oil contract back in March of 1983. Today, White House

Press Secretary also addressing concerns of

runaway energy prices. Let me just walk you through the president's thinking on this. We have to

focus on the short term and the temporary goals of Operation Epic Fury to obliterate the Iranian regime

will be a very good thing for the energy and oil markets and for oil prices across the

globe in the long term when you no longer have a terrorist regime that is restricting

the free flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz and to the rest of the world.

And we're also learning new details about the strike on an elementary school in southern Iran

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