US may retain control of Iranian oil after war: Trump

US President Donald Trump has said that the United States (US) could remain in Iran even after the war ends and potentially retain control of the country’s oil.

Speaking during his visit to Ireland on Sunday (September 13), Trump said he hoped the war with Iran would end shortly after the US midterm elections in November in this year.

While speaking at the Irish Open golf championship, Trump said US petrol prices would fall “very quickly” once the war with Iran comes to an end.

Oil prices have fluctuated sharply in global markets amid growing instability in the Middle East. Traders expect oil prices could rise again on Monday (September 14) following an attack on an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia.

Trump said he wanted only the “right deal” with Iran and would not accept a deal that he considered “not good”. He also claimed that Iran had repeatedly contacted the United States seeking peace talks, although Tehran has previously rejected such claims.

Trump also raised the possibility of the US maintaining a presence in Iran even after the war ends. Referring to a deal announced with Venezuela in August, he suggested that Washington could follow a similar approach in Iran.

“Eventually, we will leave Iran. But if we decide to stay there like Venezuela and keep the oil, that would be a different matter,” Trump said.

He further claimed that the revenue the United States was receiving from Venezuela had already covered the cost of the war “many times over.”