Donald Trump says US could 'take the oil in Iran'

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Middle East war

Donald Trump says US could ‘take the oil in Iran’

US president tells the FT he is considering seizing strategic Kharg Island even as negotiations continue


Trump has been beefing up US forces in the Middle East while also citing negotiations with Tehran © Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Edward Luce in Washington
Published YESTERDAY

Donald Trump has said he wants to “take the oil in Iran” and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island, as the US sends thousands of troops to the Middle East.

The US president told the FT in an interview on Sunday that his “preference would be to take the oil”, comparing the potential move to Venezuela where the US intends to control the oil industry “indefinitely” following its capture of strongman leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

The president’s comments come as the US-Israeli war against Iran has thrust the Middle East into crisis and sent the price of oil surging by more than 50 per cent in a month. Brent crude rose above $116 a barrel on Monday morning in Asia, near its highest level since the conflict began.

Trump said: “To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people.”

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