President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. operations have quietly removed millions of barrels of Iranian oil from the country, claiming the effort helped prevent global oil prices from soaring.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the United States has been taking "millions of barrels" of oil out of circulation each night during the conflict with Iran, adding that the operation had not been publicly disclosed until now.

"We've been taking out millions of barrels of oil. Nobody knows it," Trump said. "We've been taking out millions of barrels of oil, millions of barrels every night."

Trump claimed U.S. forces recently removed 22 ships of oil, saying the vessels were operating without lights and that Iranian radar capabilities had been severely degraded.

"We took out the other night 22 ships late at night with no lights because they don't have any radar," Trump said. "Because we blasted the crap out of it."

The president argued the actions helped keep oil prices from rising far higher amid the conflict.

"That's why oil is $85 a barrel," Trump said. "Millions of barrels of oil has come out, and that's why it's at $85, $90 a barrel instead of $250."

Trump said he had refrained from discussing the operation publicly because he did not want to jeopardize its effectiveness.

"It was very hard for me. I wanted to say it so badly, but I didn't want to ruin it," he said. "Now that they figured it out, I can tell you."

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