U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington is considering the possibility of establishing control over Iran’s oil industry, similar to the scenario in Venezuela, where the U.S. seeks to control oil production following the ousting of Nicolás Maduro.
This is reported by Finway
Plans for Seizing Iranian Oil
In his interview with the Financial Times, Trump noted that he prefers the direct seizure of Iranian oil, although, according to him, this idea is met with misunderstanding among some representatives of the American political establishment. He emphasized that the U.S. has a wide range of options regarding Iran, including the potential seizure of Khark Island, a strategic Iranian hub for oil exports.
“Honestly, I prefer to take the oil from Iran, but some foolish people in the U.S. say, ‘Why are you doing this?’. But they are foolish people,” said U.S. President Donald Trump in an interview with the Financial Times.
Trump added that Khark Island, through which a significant portion of Iranian oil exports pass, could be a target for U.S. operations. In his assessment, Iran does not have sufficient defense to protect the island, making the possibility of its seizure easier. At the same time, the U.S. president does not rule out other options, including a prolonged presence of American forces on the island in the event of its occupation.
Negotiations and the Changing Political Situation in Iran
Despite the rhetoric regarding possible actions against the Iranian oil industry, Trump stated that indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran, taking place with the mediation of Pakistani diplomats, are progressing quite successfully. According to the U.S. president, American military forces have already struck 13,000 targets, with about 3,000 remaining potential targets.
Trump also emphasized that the political landscape within Iran itself has changed: new individuals have come to power, with whom the U.S. is negotiating, and, according to him, this is a “very professional” team.