United States President Donald Trump has said the U.S. could seize Iran’s oil, as it continues to send troops to the region.
Trump’s “preference would be to take the oil”, he told the Financial Times. The U.S. Department of War is currently preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, the Washington Post reported.
“To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran but some stupid people back in the U.S. say: ‘why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people,” said Trump.
Trump also said that the U.S. could not rule out seizing Iran’s Kharg Island, which handles the export of around 90% of Iranian oil products.
“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” he said, claiming that “we could take it very easily”.
The Pentagon is planning to send at least another 10,000 ground troops to the region, per Axios, which would join 5,000 Marines and 2,000 paratroopers who have already been sent to the Middle East.
The U.S.’ current plans for ground operations reportedly include raids by special operations forces and infantry troops.
Trump also claimed that indirect ceasefire talks mediated by Pakistan are progressing, though Iran has repeatedly denied that any talks have taken place. “The enemy signals negotiation in public, while in secret it plots a ground attack,” said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
According to Trump, Ghalibaf had authorised 20 Pakistan-flagged oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to the U.S. While Iran has said it will allow 20 vessels through the strait, it has not commented on whether this was done at the U.S.’ request.
