Trump says it’s ‘too soon’ to talk about seizing Iranian oil – but isn’t ruling it out

President Donald Trump on Monday left open the possibility of obtaining Iranian oil as the United States continues what military officials say is aimed at denuclearizing Iran and destroying it so that it no longer poses a threat to the US or its Middle Eastern neighbors.

Trump told NBC News that he did not want to discuss whether he would like the US to seize Iranian oil, but added: “Certainly people have talked about it.”

He mentioned Venezuela, where the US launched a raid in January that captured the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro. Since then, the Trump administration has taken steps to protect and tap Venezuela’s oil reserves. In his State of the Union address last month, Trump said the US has already received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela.

“You’re looking at Venezuela,” Trump told NBC News. “People have thought about it, but it’s too far to talk about it.”

Controlling a portion of Iranian oil could strain US-China relations. About 80% of Iran’s crude oil exports go to China, the world’s second-largest economy and America’s biggest geopolitical rival.

Oil prices shot past $100 a barrel over the weekend in response to the US-Israel war with Iran. Iran is the world’s ninth largest oil producer, accounting for about 5% of total output.

Trump touched on other topics in the brief call, including Iran’s new supreme leader, a bill that would tighten voting requirements and his appearance over the weekend in a so-called “honorable transfer” at the Delaware airport.

The question about whether he will endorse Sen. John Cornyn., R-Texas, or his challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxton, in the first Republican battle for Cornyn’s seat.

“I’m focused on one thing and that’s a vote” on the SAVE America Act, Trump said.

He stressed the importance of passing the measure, which would require proof of citizenship across the country to register to vote, among other provisions. The bill has cleared the House but faces difficulties in the Senate, where it lacks the 60 votes needed to pass under the filibuster rule.

Asked if Congress would approve the bill, the president said: “I don’t know.”

“No one is doing much about it,” he added. “And until they do, I’m not doing anything.”

Does that mean he won’t sign any more legislation until the bill is passed?

Trump gave an open answer: “I’m not doing anything until they do it.”

One question arising from Trump’s situation is whether he will sign a bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security if the Save America act remains stalled in the Senate.

A White House official on Monday refused to elaborate on the president’s position until he is interviewed on the matter.

In the interview, Trump emphasized his displeasure with Iran’s selection of a new supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an air strike early in the war. Shia clerics have elected Khamenei’s 56-year-old son, Motjaba Khamenei, who is considered a hardliner, to replace him.

“I think they made a big mistake,” Trump said of the decision to adopt a son. “I don’t know if it will last long, I think they made a mistake.”

Trump spent part of the weekend at an event in Dover, Delaware. Wearing a “USA” football cap, he saluted as caskets carrying the remains of six US service members killed in the Iran war arrived from the Middle East.

Trump met privately with family members in attendance, a White House official said.

“They are great people,” Trump told NBC News.

He attended his first formal ceremony in February 2017, less than two weeks into his first term.

“It’s always difficult,” said the president.