President Donald Trump suggested Sunday that the United States could remain in Iran after the war ends, raising the possibility that Washington could maintain control over some of the country’s oil resources.
Trump made the comments during a visit to Ireland, where he compared a potential arrangement in Iran to his administration’s approach in Venezuela.
“We’ll ultimately get out (of the war), unless we decide to stay and keep the oil like Venezuela,” Trump said.
The president said the United States could eventually leave Iran, but suggested there may be reasons to maintain a presence there.
His comments offered one of the clearest indications yet that the administration is considering what an American role in Iran could look like after the fighting ends.
Trump has said he believes the war could conclude later this year, potentially after the November midterm elections. But there is still no clear diplomatic path toward ending the conflict.
The president said Sunday that Iran has sought negotiations with the United States, while insisting he would only accept an agreement he considers favorable to Washington. Iranian officials have previously disputed Trump’s claims about their willingness to negotiate.
The comments come as fighting across the region continues to disrupt global energy markets.
Oil prices climbed again Monday following new attacks involving Saudi Arabia and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude moved above $107 a barrel, while U.S. crude rose above $103.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline was also shut following Houthi drone attacks, adding another potential disruption to global supplies.
The pipeline provides Saudi Arabia with an alternative route for exporting oil that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said he expects energy prices to fall sharply once the war ends.
But his latest comments raise a broader question about what happens afterward.
The president has not provided details about how long American forces could remain in Iran, what a continued U.S. presence would involve or how the United States could gain control over Iranian oil resources.
For now, Trump appears to be leaving that possibility open as his administration weighs the eventual end of a conflict that has now stretched for roughly six months.
