Lindsey Graham has described the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as a good investment

The US will control almost a third of the world's oil and reap record profits if it succeeds in toppling the Iranian government, hawkish Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News on Sunday.

Graham made his comments as global oil prices surged past $100 per barrel, a rise that President Donald Trump dismissed as "a very small price to pay" for the USIsraeli war against Iran, which was launched on February 28.

Graham described the cost of the attacks on Iran as the "best money ever spent," and argued that the war was meant to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons - something Iran has long denied, insisting that its nuclear program is peaceful.

"When this regime goes down, we're going to have a new Middle East, we are going to make a ton of money. Nobody will threaten the Strait of Hormuz again," Graham said. He added that the US would install a "friendly" government in Tehran.

"Venezuela and Iran have 31% of the world's oil reserves. We're going to have a partnership with 31% of the known reserves. This is China's nightmare. This is a good investment," Graham said.

Washington has also been seeking to control Venezuela's oil sector after US commandos captured President Nicolas Maduro in early January. On Saturday, President Donald Trump formally recognized Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who signaled an intention to cooperate with the US.

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the USIsraeli attacks and has struck several tankers attempting to transit the crucial shipping route, leading to further disruptions in global energy flows. The Iranian military has also launched retaliatory strikes on American bases in the Gulf states.

Tehran has denounced the war as unprovoked aggression and vowed not to bow to Trump's demand for "unconditional surrender."

(RT.com)