U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire to seize Iranian oil, and he also mentioned the possibility of capturing Khark Island, from which Iran supplies 90% of its oil.
In his interview with the Financial Times, Trump stated that he "would prefer to take the oil," comparing it to the situation in Venezuela, where the U.S. is seeking control over the oil industry following the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.
Trump also added: "Honestly, I would like to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people in the U.S. say, 'Why do you need that?' But they just don't understand." He noted that "maybe we will capture Khark Island, maybe we won't. We have many options."
According to media reports, U.S. troops have already arrived in the region, to which Iran responded with a threat of "a barrage of fire" in the event of landing operations.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iranian military forces "are ready to respond when American soldiers land on the ground." At the same time, American media report that the Pentagon is preparing for possible ground operations in Iran, although it is unclear whether Trump will approve this.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that Washington can achieve its goals in Iran "without the need for ground troops." He explained that the deployment of troops in the Persian Gulf should provide Trump with various options for action.
The record of Trump speaking about the seizure of Iranian oil first appeared on the K-News website.
