Trump floats Iran oil takeover as strikes loom

Washington, June 11 (IANS) President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his preferred strategy in the conflict with Iran would be to seize control of key Iranian oil infrastructure, including Kharg Island, while also warning that more powerful US military strikes were imminent.

In a telephone interview with Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Trump said Iran had been severely weakened and suggested that Washington could ultimately dominate Tehran’s oil and gas exports.

“My preference has always been to take Kharg Island,” Trump said. “That’s always been my number one thing.”

Kharg Island is Iran’s principal oil export terminal and a critical hub for the country’s energy shipments.

The President argued that a long-term strategy focused on Iranian energy assets could produce economic benefits for the United States.

“We did it with Venezuela. Venezuela has worked out great for everybody,” Trump said. “We’ve taken millions and millions of barrels of oil out of Venezuela. We brought them to Houston and various other places, such as Louisiana, where, you know, we have incredible refineries. They’re going 24 hours a day, making a fortune.”

He added: “I like that, in this case, too.”

At the same time, Trump indicated he was uncertain whether Americans would support a prolonged operation aimed at controlling Iranian energy infrastructure.

“I don’t know that America has the stomach for it, to be honest with you,” he said. “I’m not sure the country has the appetite for it. And that’s OK. I understand that.”

Trump’s comments came shortly after he posted on social media that the United States would strike Iran again and would eventually “assume total control” of its oil and gas markets.

Throughout the interview, the President repeatedly claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been largely destroyed.

“They have no Navy. They have no Air Force. They have no anti-aircraft,” Trump said.

He also asserted that Iranian leaders were seeking negotiations with Washington despite public rhetoric.

“They’re dying to make a deal,” Trump said. “They’re negotiating with us to make a deal.”

Asked whether military action would continue, Trump left little doubt.

“Yeah, there will be more bombing tonight,” he said. “It’ll be a bigger, bigger, more powerful.”

Even so, Trump suggested there were limits to how far he would go militarily. Referring to infrastructure such as water facilities and bridges, he said civilian suffering remained a concern.

“I’d rather not do it, because once you do that, the people suffer,” he said. “Water is really a devastating loss for them.”

The President also rejected the idea of deploying large numbers of American troops inside Iran.

“I don’t want to have boots on the ground,” Trump said. “But if I wanted to, we could put a small group of soldiers and take over the whole place.”

Iran’s Kharg Island handles the vast majority of the country’s crude oil exports and is considered one of the most strategically important energy facilities in the Gulf.

–IANS

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