Trump told NBC he didn’t want to discuss seizing Iran’s oil, but the comparison he made immediately after said everything

President Donald Trump recently hinted that acquiring Iranian oil is not off the table, even though he said it’s “too soon” to talk specifics. During a phone call with reporters, he said that while he didn’t want to get into whether the U.S. would seize Iranian oil, “Certainly people have talked about it.”

He then pointed to Venezuela, where the U.S. conducted a raid in January, capturing its leader, Nicolás Maduro. Since then, the administration has been working to secure and tap into Venezuela’s oil. In his State of the Union speech last month, Trump stated that the U.S. has already obtained over 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela.

“You look at Venezuela,” he told NBC News. “People have thought about it, but it’s too soon to talk about that.” The comparison was seen as a signal that seizing Iranian oil could be a real possibility down the line.

Seizing Iranian oil could seriously damage U.S. relations with China

This discussion comes as the U.S. is engaged in a war with Iran, which officials say aims to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to neutralize its threat to the U.S. and its Middle Eastern neighbors. As the conflict intensifies, Iran’s internet and communications have gone dark under growing U.S. military pressure. 

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has already pushed oil prices past $100 a barrel. Iran ranks ninth in global oil production, accounting for about 5% of total oil output. If the U.S. were to take control of some of Iran’s oil, it could seriously strain relations with China, which is not only the world’s second-largest economy and America’s biggest geopolitical rival, but also the destination for about 80% of Iran’s crude oil exports.

Trump also reiterated his displeasure over Iran’s selection of a new supreme leader. Following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in an airstrike at the war’s outset, Shia clerics chose his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is considered a hard-liner.

Analysts have also raised concerns about Iran’s most powerful missile targeting Tel Aviv and the unique danger it poses. “I think they made a big mistake,” Trump said. “I don’t know if it’s going to last. I think they made a mistake.”

Trump also stressed the importance of passing the SAVE America Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship nationwide for voter registration. The House has already passed it, but it faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to overcome the filibuster rule. When asked about its chances, Trump responded, “I don’t know. Nobody is doing much on it. And until they do, I’m not doing anything.”

When asked if he would refuse to sign other legislation until the bill passes, his reply was open-ended: “I’m not doing anything until they get it done.” However, a White House official clarified that Trump “will of course sign DHS funding if it is sent to his desk,” addressing concerns about a potential Department of Homeland Security shutdown if the bill remains stalled. 

Trump also deflected a question about endorsing either Senator John Cornyn or his challenger, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a Texas primary, saying, “I’m focused on one thing, and that’s the vote” on the SAVE America Act.