President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States could remain involved in Iran and potentially keep control of the country’s oil, comparing the idea to Washington’s recent oil deal with Venezuela.
Speaking during a visit to Ireland, Trump said the United States would ultimately leave Iran unless it chose another path.
“We’ll ultimately get out [of Iran], unless we decide to stay and keep the oil like Venezuela,” Trump said, according to Reuters.
Trump made the remarks while attending the Irish Open golf championship in Doonbeg. He again predicted that the ongoing war with Iran would end this year, possibly after the U.S. midterm elections in November.
The president also said gasoline prices would “drop like a rock” once the conflict ended and argued that any agreement with Tehran would have to be favorable to the United States.
His comments come as turmoil across the Middle East continues to disrupt global energy markets. Oil prices have faced renewed pressure following attacks affecting major regional infrastructure, including a Saudi oil pipeline.
Trump compared the possibility of remaining in Iran with the U.S. arrangement involving Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Earlier this month, the White House announced a deal giving the United States majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan oil reserves.
For now, Trump’s statement represents a possibility raised publicly by the president rather than an announced U.S. policy to seize or permanently control Iranian oil.
Sources: Reuters; White House
By NJ RADAR Team