U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a new approach to the Iran conflict, raising the idea of seizing oil resources as part of broader operations in the region.
“KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?” Trump wrote in a post, following earlier remarks in which he proposed to “OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE.”
The comments refer to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply typically passes. The strait has faced major disruptions amid ongoing tensions and threats of Iranian attacks on shipping.
Trump’s latest statements appear to signal a shift in tone. Earlier in the week, he suggested that countries more dependent on Middle Eastern oil should take responsibility for securing and reopening the waterway.
The United States imports relatively little oil from the region compared to other global economies and is a net energy exporter, a factor that has shaped Washington’s strategic calculations during the crisis.
The remarks come as global energy markets remain volatile and military operations continue across the region.
