Trump warns US could ‘take the oil in Iran’ as Mideast war escalates
Smoke rises from the direction of an energy facility in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14, 2026. In the latest attack targeting Gulf oil facilities on March 14, hours after the US struck Iran’s Kharg Island, smoke could be seen rising from the direction of a major UAE energy facility.
– | Afp | Getty Images
As the conflicts in the Middle East enter their fifth week, US President Donald Trump said that he could “take the oil from Iran” and capture Kharg Island, Iran’s export center.
Embers he told the Financial Times He said on Sunday that his “preference would be to take the oil” and compared it to the US military operation in Venezuela earlier this year, which effectively took control of the Latin American country’s oil industry after the capture of its leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump’s comments came as the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran entered its fifth week, attacks spread across the region, risks to energy and infrastructure increased, and terrorist attacks continued. crude oil prices are rising.
May futures contracts of international benchmark Brent crude oil increased by 2.92% to $115.86 per barrel in the first hours of Asia, while US West Texas Intermediate futures contracts increased by 3.20% to $102.80 per barrel.
Washington Post On Saturday night, it was reported that the Pentagon was preparing for a potential ground conflict in Iran that could take place for weeks as thousands of US troops arrived in the region.
Critical infrastructure in the region came under fire, indicating that tensions would escalate further. One social media post On Monday morning, Kuwait said a service building at the electricity generation and water purification plant was damaged and one worker died in an attack on Sunday evening.
The country said the facility was targeted as part of what it described as Iranian aggression against Kuwait. According to the ministry, the worker killed was an Indian citizen.
Emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the area to control the damage and continue operations, while authorities coordinated with security agencies to ensure the security of the site. According to the statement, officials said Kuwait’s electricity and water systems remain stable and contingency plans have been activated to ensure continued supply.
Gulf desalination plants provide most of the region’s drinking water, making them critical infrastructure and a vulnerable target in any escalation.
Iranian-backed Houthi forces also entered the conflict and launched missiles at Israel. “The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out the first military operation using a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting sensitive Israeli military sites,” Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said. to post In X.
— CNBC’s Lee Ying Shan and Azhar Sukri contributed to this report.
