ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - US President Donald Trump on Thursday said taking over Iran’s oil is a viable option as the conflict continues to unfold, directly comparing the possibility to the US’ Venezuela intervention earlier this year.

When asked by reporters whether he was thinking of taking control over Iranian oil, Trump said, “It's an option. I mean, I wouldn't talk about it, but it's an option.”

“Well, in Venezuela, we've done very well working with Venezuela, certainly. We've taken in billions and billions of dollars. And by the way, Venezuela is doing better right now than they've ever done in the history of their country,” he added.

Since the US captured the previous Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the start of the year in an unprecedented raid on Caracas, a new policy allows US entities to engage in oil trading and new investments with Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PdVSA.

The US and Israel have been at war with Iran for nearly five weeks, with daily airstrikes across the country and retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday confirmed that indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Islamabad, are taking place, despite Iran claiming that it rejected the talks.

On Monday, Trump referred to a 15-point agreement with Iran, saying he was in contact with a top Iranian leader, while denying recognition of newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s position and role. 

"I read a story today that I'm desperate to make a deal," Trump told reporters. "I'm the opposite of desperate. I don't care."

Iranian semi-official media, citing an unnamed source, on Thursday reported that Tehran has responded to the proposal and attached certain conditions required for Iran to approve any ceasefire, including reparations, guarantees of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and ending attacks on pro-Iran groups across the region

During the conflict, Iran has closed the strategic strait, responsible for roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil as a means in its war against the US and Israel, causing a sharp rise in oil prices.

As a sign of goodwill, Trump said Iran sent the US 10 tanker ships of oil to initiate the renewed talks.

“They [Iran] said to show you the fact that we're real and solid and we're there. We're gonna let you have eight boats of oil, eight boats, eight big boats of oil,” Trump said.

He added that they sent two others as an apology for something they said, without specifying what the remarks were.

It remains unclear who Washington is negotiating with, as Iran denies entering the renewed talks and most of Iran’s top leaders have been killed, among them late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top security chief Ali Larijani.

The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make an appearance and is believed to be badly wounded.