United States President Donald Trump again threatened Iran on Tuesday, declaring he “cancelled all meetings” with the Middle Eastern country’s officials, adding Tehran “will pay a big price.” “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers,” the US leader wrote on Truth Social. He explained that he would not hold any encounters with Iranian officials “until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS.” “HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA [Make Iran Great Again],” Trump concluded. Although Trump repeatedly warned Iran of military intervention in favor of the anti-government protests in the country, he said Iranian leaders contacted him to negotiate a nuclear deal. On the other hand, the US president said he may act before the talks could potentially take place.
What’s at Stake for the Oil Market If Iran Crisis Escalates…… Trump help is in the way!
At least 12,000 people may have been killed in Iranian anti-government protests that started at the end of December, the UK-based Iran International reported on Tuesday, citing the information obtained by multiple sources close to the Supreme National Security Council and the Iranian presidential office, as well as sources in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, witness accounts, and information from medical officials. The outlet’s editorial board claimed in a statement that the information obtained showed that “this massacre was carried out by direct order of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the knowledge and explicit support of the heads of the three authorities, and with direct orders to fire issued by the Supreme National Security Council.” It added that the vast majority of the killings happened during two consecutive nights, on January 8 and January 9. The board insisted that all the information was verified “through multiple stages and in accordance with strict professional standards before being announced.”
Trump help is in the way!
United States President Donald Trump again threatened Iran on Tuesday, declaring he “cancelled all meetings” with the Middle Eastern country’s officials, adding Tehran “will pay a big price.”
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers,” the US leader wrote on Truth Social.
He explained that he would not hold any encounters with Iranian officials “until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS.” “HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA [Make Iran Great Again],” Trump concluded. Although Trump repeatedly warned Iran of military intervention in favor of the anti-government protests in the country, he said Iranian leaders contacted him to negotiate a nuclear deal. On the other hand, the US president said he may act before the talks could potentially take place.
At least 12,000 rumored to be killed in Iran protests
At least 12,000 people may have been killed in Iranian anti-government protests that started at the end of December, the UK-based Iran International reported on Tuesday, citing the information obtained by multiple sources close to the Supreme National Security Council and the Iranian presidential office, as well as sources in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, witness accounts, and information from medical officials. The outlet’s editorial board claimed in a statement that the information obtained showed that “this massacre was carried out by direct order of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the knowledge and explicit support of the heads of the three authorities, and with direct orders to fire issued by the Supreme National Security Council.” It added that the vast majority of the killings happened during two consecutive nights, on January 8 and January 9. The board insisted that all the information was verified “through multiple stages and in accordance with strict professional standards before being announced.”
NN: Another red line, Reminiscent of Mohammad Obama. Iran has far exceeded Trumps red line. Will he punk out Like Obama or end this savage regime and score a big victory against terrorists organizations funding.
Iran intensify their crackdown on anti-government demonstrations
DUBAI, Jan 10 – Iran’s authorities indicated on Saturday they could intensify their crackdown on the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years, with the Revolutionary Guards blaming unrest on terrorists and vowing to safeguard the governing system. A day after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a new warning that the United States could intervene, there were fresh reports of violence across the country, although an internet blackout made it difficult to assess the full extent of unrest. The exiled son of Iran’s last shah, who has emerged as a prominent voice in the fragmented opposition, made his strongest call yet for the protests to broaden into a revolt to topple the clerical rulers.
State media said a municipal building was set on fire in Karaj, west of Tehran, and blamed “rioters”. State TV broadcast footage of funerals of members of the security forces it said were killed in protests in the cities of Shiraz, Qom and Hamedan. Footage on social media on Friday showed large crowds gathered in Tehran and fires lit in the street at night. Reuters was able to confirm the location by comparing landmarks with satellite imagery.
Protests have spread across Iran since December 28, beginning in response to soaring inflation, and quickly turning political with protesters demanding an end to clerical rule. Authorities accuse the U.S. and Israel of fomenting unrest. A witness in western Iran reached by phone said the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) were deployed and opening fire in the area from which the witness was speaking, declining to be identified for safety.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the arrest of 100 “armed rioters” in the town of Baharestan near Tehran. In a statement broadcast by state TV, the IRGC – an elite force which has suppressed previous bouts of unrest – accused “terrorists” of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights. It said several citizens and security personnel had been killed and public and private property set on fire.
Safeguarding the achievements of the Islamic revolution and maintaining security was a “red line”, it added.
The regular military also issued a statement saying it would “protect and safeguard national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property”.
Trump said on Thursday he was not inclined to meet Pahlavi, a sign that he was waiting to see how the crisis plays out before backing an opposition leader. Trump, who joined Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear sites last summer, warned Tehran last week the U.S. could come to the protesters’ aid. On Friday, he said: “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too.”
“I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now,” he added. A doctor in northwestern Iran said that since Friday large numbers of injured protesters had been brought to hospitals. Some were badly beaten, suffering head injuries and broken legs and arms, as well as deep cuts. At least 20 people in one hospital had been shot with live ammunition, five of whom later died. On Friday, Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of Trump, saying rioters were attacking public properties and warning that Tehran would not tolerate people acting as “mercenaries for foreigners”.
NN: If the Ayatollahs fall Iran oil will zoom past $100.
By the way Khamenei has made a contingency plan to exile himself in Russia.
Trump: We sort of formed a deal with Exxon Calls Venezuela ‘Uninvestable’ as Trump Pushes Oil Planoil execs…..
United States President Donald Trump told reporters while departing Washington for Florida that he had a “great meeting” with oil executives regarding the extraction of Venezuelan oil. “We sort of formed a deal,” the US president added.
Major US oil executives expressed caution about President Donald Trump’s push for them to spend at least $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela, with the head of Exxon Mobil Corp. calling the nation currently “uninvestable.”
Russia: Partnership with Venezuela will continue
Russian Ambassador to Venezuela Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov said that Moscow’s strategic partnership with Venezuela “will continue in all areas,” following a meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yva
n Gil Pinto. “Contacts between o
ur countries have not been interrupte
d for a minute, and the Venezuelan side has kept us informed of the situation following the brazen US military aggression, which resulted in the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Moros and his wife, Cilia Flores,” Melik-Bagdarosov told TASS. At the same time, Pinto stressed the “continuity” of cooperation with Moscow, adding that the strategic partnership agreement between the two countries entered into force last year. The Russian envoy noted that the United States attack on Venezuela involved the “execution” of around 100 people with “marked brutality.”
The U.S. has agreed to release two Russian crew members from the Marinera, a tanker seized in the North Atlantic, following a request from Russia. This decision was welcomed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which expressed gratitude to the U.S. leadership for the release
NN: Audio file : Where do they go to get a refund?
Oil climbs 1% with geopolitics in focus…… Iran: US, Israel directly involved in protests
Crude oil prices rose by more than 1% on Friday after United States President Donald Trump reiterated that his country plans to hit Iran “hard” if any protesters are killed, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Washington not to interfere. Investors’ focus also remained on the situation in Venezuela, with the US seizing another tanker due to sanctions on Venezuela’s oil trade. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February’s deliveries climbed by 1.78% at 9:55 am ET to $59.32 per barrel. At the same time, Brent for settlements in March advanced by 1.36% to $63.45 per barrel.
Iran: US, Israel directly involved in protests
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the United States and Israel “have officially announced that they are involved” in anti-government protests in Iran. He claimed that they are trying to turn the peaceful demonstrations into “violence and chaos.” Earlier this week, reports indicated that the US and Israel are considering limited military operations in Iran, while US President Donald Trump threatened that Tehran will “pay hell” if it kills protesters. Meanwhile, Iran blamed “terrorist agents” from the US and Israel for inciting violence during yesterday’s protests.
Trump Underestimates the Challenge of Reviving Venezuela’s Oil
- Trump says the U.S. will control Venezuela’s oil sales and take up to 50 million barrels, channeling proceeds into U.S.-controlled accounts while deploying U.S. oil majors to rebuild the sector.
- Venezuela’s oil sector is deeply degraded, with production far below capacity and infrastructure in “catastrophic” condition.
- The industry’s decline traces back to 2007 nationalizations under Hugo Chávez, which drove out major foreign investors, eroded technical expertise, and set off long-term production decline. Earlier in the week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela’s interim authorities will be turning over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, before later declaring his administration will control Venezuela’s oil sales ‘indefinitely’. Trump has decried the state of Venezuela’s oil sector, noting that the country is producing well below its full potential. “They were pumping almost nothing by comparison to what they could have been pumping and what could have taken place,” Trump said. “We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies — the biggest anywhere in the world — go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure,” he added. According to the Trump administration, proceeds from the oil sales will go into U.S.-controlled accounts and will be released back to Caracas at the discretion of Washington. It’s quite clear that Trump intends to pump as much Venezuelan crude as he can and ship it back to the United States, but it’s more about global dominance through energy than it is about simply “stealing Venezuela’s oil”. But on the surface, the oil looks like a good bargain, even if the past strategy in Washington has been to decimate it. Now, the reverse is being demanded. Venezuela’s oil is not only relatively cheap, largely due to its sticky, sludgy texture that requires significant refining, but also due to the fact that many U.S. refineries were constructed to process Venezuela’s heavy oil. Venezuela is estimated to hold around 300 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves, making it the largest on paper in the world at roughly 15–18 % of total global reserves under current reporting. Much of this oil is extra-heavy and costly to extract, and observers caution that a significantly smaller portion is economically recoverable without massive investment and technology upgrades. The South American country pumped more than 3.5 million barrels a day at its peak in the 1970s, but currently produces less than a third of that. However, revamping Venezuela’s oil sector could prove to be a Herculean task that will not only take years to accomplish but also need heavy investments underpinned by solid legal assurances.
Indeed, Venezuela’s low-hanging fruit is rather limited: According to Norwegian energy consultancy Rystad Energy, only 300-350 kbpd can be quickly restored with minimal spending from the current clip of 800,000 bpd-1 million bpd, with production beyond 1.4 mbpd requiring heavy, sustained investment. Rystad estimates that Venezuela will require $53 billion over the next 15 years just to keep production flat at 1.1 mbpd, but could need up to $183 billion over the same period to ramp up production to over 3 million bpd, roughly equivalent to the entire North American land capex for one year. A leaked document from PDVSA in 2021 revealed that the country’s oil pipelines had not been updated in 50 years, with Venezuela’s National Oil Company estimating it would take a staggering $58 billion to get them back in peak condition. Recent estimates have placed the figure in excess of $100 billion. Venezuela’s operational oil pipeline network has a total length of 2,139 miles (approximately 3,442 kilometers). For some perspective, the UAE, which produces approximately 3.2 million bpd, has ~9,000 km of oil pipeline.
NN: It will take years and $100 billion dollars to restore Venezuela oil production to its former glory. Bottom line expect no increase in production for many years into the future.
US Seizes Two More Ships as Trump Tightens Venezuela Quarantine
US forces seized two more sanctioned oil tankers as part of its energy quarantine of Venezuela, signaling that the Trump administration will ratchet up its pressure campaign days after capturing President Nicolas Maduro. The first ship, the M/V Bella 1, was seized in the Atlantic south of Iceland after a chase that began weeks ago when the vessel evaded capture near Venezuela and registered under a Russian flag in a bid to protect itself. The Pentagon then announced the seizure of the M/T Sophia, another sanctioned vessel that officials said had been conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea.
“The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.
The US European Command said the Bella 1 was seized for sanctions violations “pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court” after being tracked by a US Coast Guard vessel.
The capture of the two ships risks inflaming tensions with Russia. The Bella 1, sanctioned in 2024, had switched to a Russian flag — its crew even painted the Russian tricolor on its hull — and changed its name to the Marinera. Russia had sent a submarine and other naval assets to provide an escort for the vessel and asked the US to stop pursuing the vessel, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The M Sophia, seized with support of the UK, was sanctioned in 2025 and had been involved in the Russian oil trade, taking on cargoes from smaller ships off the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in March 2023 and delivering them to China. With the latest seizures, the US has now detained four tankers in the weeks since imposing the quarantine on ships going to and from Venezuela, according to TankerTrackers.com, which monitors the industry. It said all four are under US sanction and have transported oil on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is designated a terrorist group by the US.
The moves highlight how the administration is expanding the scope of its quarantine with a willingness to pursue ships even if they’re far away from Venezuela.
In interviews after Maduro’s ouster on January 3, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said restricting the flow of oil would be a crucial way to exert leverage on the Venezuelan leaders who succeed him. The seizure of the Bella marks the conclusion of a chase that began in late December when the tanker turned away from Venezuela and retreated out into the Atlantic Ocean in a bid to avoid a US quarantine. The Trump administration deployed its naval assets in the Caribbean to squeeze Maduro in the days before US special forces launched an operation to capture him. Trade intelligence company Kpler lists the vessel as loading about two million barrels of Venezuelan crude from the Jose export terminal in late December.
NN: US seizer of oil tankers does not add even 1 barrel of oil to the market. Instead of the oil going to China its going to America
Trump: Venezuela to give 30-50 million barrels…. A one time shot which is virtually noting in a 100 million BPD Market
President Donald Trump late Tuesday said Venezuela will send the U.S. 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil, which will then be sold by the U.S. and the proceeds controlled by him. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the interim authorities in Venezuela will “turn over” to the U.S. “high quality, sanctioned” oil. “This oil will be sold at its market price and that money will be controlled by me” to “ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States,” he said. “I have asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute this plan, immediately,” Trump added. “It will be taken by storage ships, and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States.” It is unclear how it would be legal for the president to control the proceeds of such a sale, as Congress generally appropriates funds as is mandated under the Constitution. There are also practical issues, such as shipping capacity and the immediate ability for U.S. refineries to process heavy Venezuelan crude. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for more details Venezuela has been producing around 1 million barrels of crude a day, so the deal would represent about one to two months’ production. It’s hard to gauge the market price for Venezuelan crude since it’s been sanctioned by the U.S. for years. Heavy crude is generally trading around the mid-$40 level, Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for Gulf Oil, said That’s “not exactly a stunning return,” he said.