Trump says US could stay in Iran and keep oil, like Venezuela deal

President Donald Trump, during a trip to Ireland, proposed on Sunday that the United States could potentially remain in Iran and retain control over its oil reserves, drawing a comparison to a U.S. initiative to seize a fifth of Venezuela's extensive oil resources. The president reiterated his expectation that the conflict in Iran would conclude this year, possibly just following the midterm elections scheduled for November within the United States.

Addressing the Irish Open golf championship, Trump further commented that when the Iran war ends, the price of gasoline would "plummet dramatically". The region's instability has significantly impacted oil markets, leading traders to anticipate a potential price hike on Monday following a Saudi oil pipeline assault. Trump emphasized that any deal would be "appropriate" and wouldn't be "subpar", stating that Iran has been persistently requesting peace negotiations.

However, the president also presented an alternative scenario, suggesting the possibility of continuing engagement with Iran. He drew an analogy with the U.S. agreement in Venezuela, which was announced in August, stating, "We'll ultimately withdraw (from Iran), unless we choose to remain and retain the oil, similar to Venezuela." He added that the financial gains from Venezuela's oil have "supplemented the war numerous times".