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President Donald Trump said Thursday that taking control of Iran's oil is an "option," as he intensified pressure on Tehran to reach a deal to end the war with the United States and Israel. He made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, drawing a comparison to U.S. involvement in Venezuela's oil sector, which he said has generated "billions of dollars."

"It's an option. I mean, I wouldn't talk about it, but it's an option," Trump told reporters, responding to a question about whether seizing Iran's oil was under consideration. He pointed to the case of Venezuela, suggesting that U.S. involvement in Iran's oil industry after the conflict could be a possibility.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump said: "Well, in Venezuela, we've done very well working with Venezuela. Certainly, we've taken in billions and billions of dollars. By the way, Venezuela is doing better right now than they've ever done in the history of their country, and a sort of joint venture, but the U.S. has made a lot of money."

Coverage Comparison

The remarks were reported by multiple outlets, though with differing emphasis. TASS, the Russian state news agency, framed Trump's statement as a desire to "seize" Iran's oil industry, also noting his acknowledgment that Americans want U.S. troops to "come home." In an April 6 report, TASS quoted Trump as saying: "If I had my choice, what would I like to do? Take the oil, because it's there for the taking. There's not a thing they [Iranian authorities] can do about it. Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home."

Yonhap's reporting, dated March 26, focused on the strategic context, noting that Trump's comments came a day before a deadline he had set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The South Korean wire service also reported on a 15-point action list the U.S. had presented for a peace deal with Iran, and noted that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had acknowledged indirect messages with the U.S. through intermediaries.

A second TASS article, dated April 16, covered the reaction of Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, who dismissed Trump's remarks. TASS quoted Medvedev as saying: "One fellow from across the ocean says: 'We will come and take all the oil.' Although, firstly, who will let him take all the oil everywhere? But nevertheless, he wants to, and here the man is talking, but he talks a lot."

Key Claims

  • Trump's oil seizure comments: Trump said taking control of Iran's oil is an "option," and expressed a personal preference to "take the oil" and "make plenty of money." This was reported by both Yonhap and TASS.
  • Venezuela analogy: Trump cited U.S. involvement in Venezuela's oil sector as a model, claiming the U.S. had taken in "billions of dollars." This claim appears only in Yonhap's reporting.
  • Strait of Hormuz deadline: Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to "obliterate" Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure if it did not comply. This was reported by Yonhap.
  • U.S. troop withdrawal sentiment: Trump said Americans want U.S. troops to "come home," which he described as a factor limiting his options. This was reported by TASS.
  • Iran's indirect communications: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly acknowledged that indirect messages had been exchanged with the U.S. through intermediaries, but emphasized that this did not amount to formal negotiations. This was reported by Yonhap.
  • Russian response: Dmitry Medvedev said "no one will let" Trump "take all the oil," and dismissed Trump's statements as excessive talk. This was reported by TASS.

Perspectives

U.S. Administration Perspective: President Trump framed the possibility of taking control of Iran's oil as a pragmatic economic opportunity, drawing on the Venezuela example. He also noted the American public's wish for troops to return home, suggesting a tension between his preferences and domestic sentiment.

Iranian Perspective: Iranian officials, via Foreign Minister Araghchi, acknowledged indirect contact with the U.S. but downplayed the significance, indicating that formal negotiations have not begun. This suggests a cautious stance amid the conflict.

Russian Perspective: Dmitry Medvedev underscored the implausibility of the U.S. seizing oil reserves, framing the idea as unrealistic and characteristic of Trump's rhetorical style. This reflects a critical view of U.S. policy in the region.