Trump says seizing Iranian oil is ‘an option’ amid ongoing war

United States President Donald Trump walks toward the White House upon his arrival in Washington, DC, from Memphis, Tennessee, United States, on March 23, 2026. [Celal Güneş – Anadolu Agency]

US President Donald Trump has said that seizing Iranian oil remains “an option”, as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump told reporters that taking control of Iran’s oil resources is being considered, though he did not provide further details.

“It’s an option on the table,” he said, while also referring to previous US involvement in oil sectors such as Venezuela.

Trump added that he is uncertain whether a deal can be reached with Iran, claiming that Tehran is seeking an agreement, though Iranian officials have repeatedly denied this.

READ: Iran says oil exports reach 1.5M barrels per day despite war

“The Iranians are begging for a deal, not me,” he said, describing them as “good negotiators.”

The US president also stated that military operations against Iran are “ahead of schedule”, predicting that the war — now in its fourth week — could end soon.

Meanwhile, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spoke of “strong indications” of progress toward persuading Iran to reach a deal, noting that a 15-point framework proposal had been conveyed to Tehran through a Pakistani mediator.

He added, “The Iranians are stalling in the talks and looking for a way out, and reaching a deal would be in the best interests of both Iran and the world.”