US control over Venezuela’s oil exports is raising questions about whether a similar strategy could target Iran’s energy sector.
Following the fall of Nicolás Maduro, the United States moved swiftly to reshape Venezuela’s oil industry. Oil sales are now conducted under US-approved frameworks, and international companies have re-entered the market under Washington’s oversight.
In practice, Venezuela’s most valuable resource — its oil — cannot be freely exported without American authorization. Billions in potential revenue now flow through mechanisms aligned with US policy, giving Washington significant leverage over Caracas’ economic future.
This development has sparked debate over whether the “Venezuela model” could be applied to Iran. Like Venezuela, Iran depends heavily on oil exports and has long faced US sanctions. However, Iran’s strategic depth, regional influence, and control over key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz make its situation far more complex.
