Trump’s Next Global Target: After Venezuela, Is Iran Next On US’ Radar? Explained | World News

US-Venezuela Conflict: With US-Venezuela tensions escalating dramatically, President Donald Trump confirmed a large-scale attack against Venezuela on Saturday, claiming that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country.

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The operation took place at a time when tensions between Washington and Caracas were rising sharply. Trump has repeatedly described the Venezuelan government as a “narco-terrorist regime,” citing drug trafficking concerns as the primary justification for U.S. action.

Sharing on Truth Social, Trump said, “The United States successfully carried out a large-scale attack against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured and sent out of the country with his wife. This operation was carried out together with the US Law Enforcement.”

Experts suggest the consequences of Trump’s moves extend beyond Venezuela.

Is Iran Next for Trump After Venezuela?

Assistant Professor at Amity Defense and Strategic Research Institute. Aparaajita Pandey highlighted the different justifications for US intervention in Venezuela and Iran.

“U.S. policy regarding Venezuela often refers to the Monroe Doctrine, which views threats in the Americas as dangers to U.S. territory,” Pandey said.

“This has always created a gray area around sovereignty because interventions are framed as protective rather than offensive,” he added.

In contrast, he stated that Iran represents a much more complex geopolitical problem.

“Iran’s rationale is regional stability and prevention of nuclear tension. It is no match for key US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia, and Iran’s alliance with Russia and China complicates matters further. Oil and broader geopolitical dynamics are at the core of both situations, but the risks in the Middle East are much higher,” Pandey said.

Pandey added that domestic politics plays a role in Trump’s goals. “In Venezuela, this action is aimed at distracting attention from internal difficulties rather than weakening the political order. For Iran, this is part of the larger Israel-Iran-Middle East game.”

While talking about China’s ties with Latin America, he noted that Beijing has made deep progress in the region by providing credit and technology support to Venezuela.

“Venezuela has a lot of crude oil. The type of crude oil they have is very concentrated. And you have to constantly update your technology to extract that oil, to harvest that oil, and Venezuela hasn’t been able to do that because its economy has been in bad shape for the last decade. China, in particular, has a barter system with them,” he said.

“China has deep pockets. So they don’t really care about depositing money into Venezuela and giving them credit lines. But if it is assumed that China will not be able to get the required oil or will face a problem due to the current situation, this is wrong. Beijing does not trust Venezuelan oil. They buy oil from elsewhere,” Pandey explained.

“Meanwhile, Iran controls strategic chokepoints such as the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Foreign partnerships of both countries limit US influence even as Trump projects military force,” he said.

Similarly, Retired Naval Captain and International Relations analyst Shyam Kumar framed the US approach as “coercive diplomacy”. “The United States has been affected by drug trafficking and has increasingly used dialogue, diplomacy and operational measures,” he said. “Naval forces seized ships and shipments, sometimes destroying suspicious vessels. Under UN law such actions are permitted under certain conditions.”

Kumar added: “The effectiveness of Trump’s actions will depend on Venezuela’s response. The country has consistently refused to aid drug networks, so for lasting success the deep-rooted drug nexus must be dismantled and those responsible prosecuted.”

The dual focus on Venezuela and Iran underscores a broader U.S. strategy that includes domestic political objectives, counternarcotics operations, and geopolitical calculations.