Washington could seize Tehran’s resources like it did in Venezuela, the US president has said
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington could either end its war with Iran or remain in the country and “keep the oil.” Trump has repeatedly threatened to take over the Islamic Republic’s oil infrastructure, prompting Iranian officials to describe the plan as delusional.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said the conflict, which has dragged on for more than six months, could end “right after” the November 3 midterm elections and claimed Iran “wants to make a deal so bad” and was “calling constantly.”
Iran has repeatedly dismissed claims it is seeking negotiations as “fabrications,” adding that Washington is mistaking diplomacy for “dictation.”
“We’ll ultimately get out, unless we decide to stay and keep the oil, like Venezuela,” Trump later said.
The comparison refers to the oil deal Washington struck with Caracas after US forces kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.
In August, Trump announced a deal giving a private venture concessions over 17 Venezuelan oil fields representing about 65 billion barrels of reserves, with the US government receiving equity and preferential rights to buy production. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, however, insisted that her country “retains ownership and sovereignty over its resources.”
Trump has repeatedly floated an idea of establishing control over Iran’s oil flows. In late March, when asked whether Washington could take control of Iranian oil, he replied: “It’s an option.” In June, he went further, threatening to seize Kharg Island – a key hub handling about 90% of Tehran’s crude exports – and “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas markets.
At the time, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, called Trump “delusional and confused” over the Kharg threat and warned that any move on Iranian territory would bring a response “recorded in history.”
Throughout the conflict, US media reported that Washington considered seizing Kharg Island, although Pentagon officials reportedly viewed the operation as exceptionally risky. Multiple media reports have also suggested that the US military was suffering from depleting stocks of air defense and cruise missiles – a claim Trump has denied.
The comments follow a new escalation in the conflict, with the US military claiming to have destroyed several Iranian oil tankers. Iran, in turn, retaliated by claiming attacks on ten vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including two US Navy ships and eight tankers.
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