Trump said in 2026 the US could stay in Iran and keep its oil
On Sept. 13, 2026, Donald Trump said the United States would leave Iran unless it decided to stay and keep Iranian oil, comparing the idea with Venezuela. He gave no operational plan, troop decision or oil agreement.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
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How the effects could reach youConditional effects
Based on two sources with available article excerpts. Source-linked claims are not independent confirmation.
Event date: Trump made the statement on Sept. 13, 2026, while speaking to reporters in Doonbeg, Ireland. [1][2]
What happened
Trump made the remarks to reporters in Doonbeg, Ireland, while attending a golf tournament. He was asked about an upcoming meeting involving Iran, Oman and several Gulf countries concerning the future of the Strait of Hormuz. [1]
References for this detail (1)
- Trump Suggests U.S. Might Exit Iran Unless Oil Control Mirrors Venezuela Strategycubaheadlines.com · Article published: Sep 13, 2026, 9:05 PM UTC
Trump said the United States would ultimately leave Iran unless it decided to stay and keep the oil, comparing the possible approach with what he described as Washington’s handling of Venezuela. The statement did not specify a timetable or implementation mechanism. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Trump Suggests U.S. Might Exit Iran Unless Oil Control Mirrors Venezuela Strategycubaheadlines.com · Article published: Sep 13, 2026, 9:05 PM UTC
- Trump Says US Could Remain in Iran and Keep Oil, Similar to Deal With Venezuelatheepochtimes.com · Article published: Sep 13, 2026, 6:57 PM UTC
The Epoch Times reported that Trump did not elaborate on a possible oil agreement with Iran or say whether he would be willing to deploy troops in the country. The White House had not immediately responded to a request for comment on Sept. 13. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- Trump Says US Could Remain in Iran and Keep Oil, Similar to Deal With Venezuelatheepochtimes.com · Article published: Sep 13, 2026, 6:57 PM UTC
Trump also said US revenue from Venezuela had paid for the war many times over and said the price of gas would drop sharply once the Iran war ended. Those remarks described his expectations, not a confirmed change in fuel prices or a completed settlement. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- Trump Says US Could Remain in Iran and Keep Oil, Similar to Deal With Venezuelatheepochtimes.com · Article published: Sep 13, 2026, 6:57 PM UTC
The remarks were made during an ongoing US-Iran war that the reporting dated to Feb. 28, 2026, when a joint offensive with Israel began. The same account linked the conflict to severe restrictions or closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but did not establish that Trump’s oil statement changed the strait’s operational status. [1]
References for this detail (1)
- Trump Suggests U.S. Might Exit Iran Unless Oil Control Mirrors Venezuela Strategycubaheadlines.com · Article published: Sep 13, 2026, 9:05 PM UTC
Context from the sources
Trump’s comparison referred to Venezuela, where the reporting said US forces captured Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, and Washington then took control of part of the country’s energy sector while supporting Delcy Rodríguez as interim president. [1]
By the end of August, Trump had announced what he called the largest oil deal in history, involving 17 Venezuelan oil fields, about 65 billion barrels of proven reserves and a 25-year term. Those figures describe the Venezuela comparison, not an Iranian agreement. [1]
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
2 source links · 2 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [2] Trump Says US Could Remain in Iran and Keep Oil, Similar to Deal With Venezuelatheepochtimes.comReferenced for: detail 2, detail 3, detail 4
- [1] Trump Suggests U.S. Might Exit Iran Unless Oil Control Mirrors Venezuela Strategycubaheadlines.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 5
Questions answered by the reporting
What this could mean for you
Energy-policy uncertainty could complicate decisions by firms exposed to Iranian oil or regional supply routes.
A possible US decision to remain in Iran and control oil would affect expectations about ownership, access and sanctions, but no mechanism was announced.
Reported basis: [2][1] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: The administration converts the statement into a formal policy or agreement.
The prospect of a prolonged US presence could sustain uncertainty for people and businesses operating around the conflict.
Trump linked leaving Iran to a possible decision to stay and keep oil, without specifying troop or withdrawal arrangements.
Reported basis: [2][1] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: US forces remain or their role expands after any future settlement.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
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What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
The administration announces a formal plan to remain in Iran, deploy troops or control Iranian oil without an agreed settlement.
The conflict or Strait of Hormuz restrictions continue while the US role remains undefined.
Pressure eases if…
Washington clarifies that the statement was not an operational policy and publishes a withdrawal or settlement framework.
A negotiated agreement establishes the US role and resolves the oil and Strait of Hormuz questions.
Still unclear
Whether the statement reflected a settled administration policy or an exploratory position is unclear.
No Iranian response, US implementation plan or confirmed oil arrangement was established in the available reporting.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (2)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
On Sunday, Donald Trump issued a stark warning that the United States might "pull out" of Iran unless Washington opts to "hold onto the oil,…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
President Donald Trump on Sept. 13 said the United States could ultimately remain in Iran and “keep the oil” in a similar manner to his…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
First tracked by DoomRadar: . AI-assisted analysis · . Based on linked headlines and available excerpts. Methodology · Report an error.