On 13 September 2026 Reuters reported Donald Trump said the United States could stay in Iran and keep oil production, pointing to the Venezuela deal as precedent. The remark came as Iran war updates showed US strikes and IRGC attacks on a base in Jordan. Speaker Johnson said he prayed the war would end after the midterms. The Venezuela comparison shifts the debate from deterrence to resource-linked presence.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Why did Trump compare Iran to Venezuela?
- A: He cited the US oil-for-presence model used in Venezuela as a precedent for staying in Iran to keep oil production.
- Q: What is the Venezuela deal Trump referenced?
- A: It refers to the US resource-linked military presence template in Latin America involving oil access in exchange for security influence.
- Q: How does this comparison change the Iran debate?
- A: It reframes US involvement from pure deterrence to a long-term, resource-linked presence similar to Latin America.
- Q: What was the context of Trump’s remarks?
- A: The comments came as Iran war updates showed US strikes and IRGC attacks on a base in Jordan, with Speaker Johnson calling for war to end after midterms.