Donald Trump has suggested the US could maintain a presence in Iran after the war ends in order to extract oil, drawing a parallel with a recent arrangement struck with Venezuela. Speaking at the weekend, he said the US would "ultimately get out unless we decide to stay and keep the oil, like Venezuela," floating a plan that would likely require American personnel on the ground to oversee operations. The remarks come as US petrol and diesel prices hit record highs amid the conflict, giving Trump added incentive to find ways of easing costs before November's midterm elections.

The comparison draws on a Pentagon-brokered deal allowing the US to buy up to 20% of Venezuela's oil at production cost, with Caracas targeting output of 1.5 million barrels a day. Experts caution Iran is a far tougher proposition, given its hostility to Washington and the security costs of protecting oil infrastructure there, unlike the more pragmatic post-Maduro leadership in Venezuela. US regular petrol has reached $4.32 a gallon and diesel a record $6.23, driven up by disruption to the Strait of Hormuz and, more recently, Houthi threats to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait; Trump has repeatedly claimed prices will fall after the elections without explaining how.