Trump has announced his intention to take control of Iran’s oil
US President Donald Trump has stated that he would like to take control of Iran’s oil industry. He made these remarks in an interview with the Financial Times.
“To be honest, what I want most is to take Iran’s oil, but some stupid people in the US are asking why I’m doing this. But they’re stupid people,” Trump remarked.
He compared the potential move to US policy in Venezuela, where, he said, Washington plans to control the oil sector “indefinitely”.
The article notes that establishing control over Iran’s oil industry would involve seizing the island of Kharg, through which most of the Islamic Republic’s oil exports pass.
Against the backdrop of the US and Israel’s war against Iran, global oil prices have risen. According to the publication, they have risen by approximately 50% over the past month, and on 30 March, the price of Brent crude on Asian markets exceeded $116 per barrel.
According to reports, the Pentagon has approved the deployment of 10,000 troops to the region, who may be involved in a potential operation. In particular, on 27 March, 3,500 US military personnel arrived in the region, including around 2,200 marines. A further 2,200 marines are on their way, and units of the 82nd Airborne Division have also received orders.
Trump stated that a decision on a possible capture of Hark Island has not yet been made.
“We may capture Hark Island, or we may not. We have many options. That would mean we would remain there for a certain period of time,” he said.
At the same time, he expressed doubt about Iran’s defensive capabilities on the island.
“I don’t think they have any defences. We could easily take it,” Trump said.
The US President also reported that indirect talks with Iran, mediated by Pakistan, are, in his view, progressing well. He had previously set a deadline of 6 April for Tehran to agree to the proposed deal to end the war.
In the event of a refusal, the US may launch strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure.
When asked about the possibility of a swift agreement to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump did not give a direct answer.
“We still have about 3,000 targets left. We have bombed 13,000 targets and there are still a few thousand left. A deal could be struck very quickly,” he said.
Trump also stated that, according to his information, Iran had allowed 20 tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and the Speaker of the Islamic Republic’s Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had approved the passage of several more vessels. There is no independent confirmation of this information.
In addition, Trump repeated his statement regarding the condition of Mojtaba Khamenei, noting that he is either dead or in a critical condition. The Iranian side maintains that he is alive and in a safe place.
