White House press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged Monday the talks the United States is having with Venezuela, Iran, and Saudi Arabia about “energy security” but shook off assertions the administration is setting ethics aside to “cut deals” to lower domestic gas prices.
The first question Psaki faced during Monday’s White House press briefing was whether “the supply of oil [is] so important that it’s acceptable” to negotiate with Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Iran.
“It’s in everyone’s interest to reduce the impact on the global oil marketplace, and that was part of that discussion,” Psaki first said of talks with the Saudi government. “As it relates to Venezuela, the purpose of the trip that was taken by administration officials was to discuss a range of issues, including certainly energy, energy security, but also to discuss the health and welfare of detained U.S. citizens.”
“We’re never going to miss an opportunity to do exactly that,” she continued. “And I will just note in this scenario that they are separate. They are separate paths and conversations, just as they are in the Iran negotiations.”
Furthermore, Psaki said “the most vital reason” the U.S. is pursuing reopening diplomatic relations with Iran “is to prevent [the country] from acquiring a nuclear weapon.”
She added, however, that as the talks continue, “there are still important components to work through, but certainly, the discussion of oil is a part of that.”
Psaki reiterated “that these are all geopolitical issues that have a range of topics that are a part of the discussion in our engagements.”
Amid the conflict in Ukraine, domestic gas prices hit their highest point since the 2008 recession over the weekend before spiking to a new high on Monday.
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You can watch Monday’s briefing in its entirety below.
