‘Go In… Take Their Oil’: Trump Shares His Old Video On Iran Amid New ‘Obliterate’ Warning

Last Updated:March 31, 2026, 04:25 IST

Trump shares 1987 clip urging seizure of Iranian oil, now threatens to destroy Irans energy sites if Hormuz stays closed, as US Iran conflict enters fifth week

Amid escalating tensions between US, Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump shared a decades-old video of himself advocating the seizure of Iranian oil assets, bringing renewed attention to his long-held views on the issue.

The clip shared on Truth Social on Tuesday (local time), from a 1987 interview on 20/20 with journalist Barbara Walters, showed a then 41-year-old Trump arguing that the United States should respond to Iranian actions by taking control of its oil infrastructure.

“You go in… you take the oil," Trump said in the interview, suggesting it as a way to recover losses and deter future attacks in response to the question how such a move would play out, pointing to the risks of escalation or military involvement.

The interview took place during the Iran-Iraq War, when tensions were high in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.

In the video, Trump criticised what he described as American weakness and suggested direct action against Iran’s oil infrastructure. “Why couldn’t we go in and take over some of their oil, which is along the sea?" he can be heard saying in the clip.

The video went further, with Trump advocating a more aggressive response if Iran attacked the US again.

“The next time Iran attacks this country, go in and grab one of their big oil installations, I mean grab it and keep it, and get back your losses, because this country has lost plenty because of Iran."

Trump shared the video after the US President threatened to blow up Iran’s energy infrastructure, oil wells and the Kharg Island if talks fail and if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran."

“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately “Open for Business," we will conclude our lovely “stay" in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet “touched." This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year “Reign of Terror’," he added.

Earlier Trump said that the war against Iran has achieved regime change, while remaining hopeful about a possible ceasefire deal. The conflict in West Asia, triggered by the US-Israel airstrikes on Iran on February 28, has entered its fifth week. Iran has hit back hard by bombing US assets in Gulf countries.

News world ‘Go In… Take Their Oil’: Trump Shares His Old Video On Iran Amid New ‘Obliterate’ Warning

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