President Trump hinted that the US could take control of Iran’s oil resources following a potential conflict
US President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that the United States could remain in Iran after the war and take control of its oil resources, drawing a comparison with Washington’s post-Maduro role in Venezuela.
Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel, while US diesel prices hit a record above $6.20 a gallon. Trump’s reference to Venezuela follows the US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.
Speaking at the Irish open golf championship during his visit to Ireland, Trump said the US would ultimately leave Iran unless it decided to stay and “keep the oil like Venezuela”. He also said he expected the war to end “right after the midterms, maybe before”, referring to the US elections in November. Trump said Iran was “calling constantly” to seek a deal, but insisted Washington would accept only an agreement that met its demands. “We have to make the right deal,” he said, adding that he would not accept a deal that was “not a good deal”. Trump said that once the war ends, US gasoline prices would “drop like a rock”.
His comments came as the conflict continued to disrupt energy markets. US forces captured Maduro and his wife in Caracas before taking him to the United States to face criminal charges. The operation followed months of pressure by the Trump administration.