Trump Threatens Iran with "Venezuela Scenario": Oil Revenues "Paid for War Multiple Times"

Dublin (Agencies): U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States might move to take control of Iranian oil, similar to what it did in Venezuela, if it decides to remain in the region. Trump made these remarks while speaking with journalists at his golf club in Ireland, saying, “We will eventually leave, unless we decide to stay and keep the oil for ourselves, as we did in Venezuela,” adding that U.S. revenues from Venezuela “paid for the war many times over.”

In a separate comment, Trump said the United States is rapidly increasing its weapons stockpiles, in his latest response to reports suggesting a decline in ammunition reserves. Speaking with journalists aboard Air Force One, he said, “We have a large stockpile of certain weapons. Much of it—as you know—is practically unlimited; we have a very massive stockpile.” He added, “Regarding advanced weapons, a lot of them have been sent to Ukraine, but we are now manufacturing them very quickly; we are replenishing our stockpiles at a rapid pace. Right now, we are producing more Patriot missiles than ever before. I mean, the factories are not only working overtime, but new facilities are being set up specifically to produce Patriot missiles and others. There are factories being prepared to produce every type, including Patriots and Tomahawks.”

Earlier this month, Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform that reports claiming U.S. weapons stockpiles have declined due to the war with Iran are “completely false,” and that the United States possesses “practically unlimited quantities of medium- and high-quality ammunition.”