Trump claims Saudi Arabia will boost oil production

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ (AP):

President Donald Trump said yesterday that he had received assurances from King Salman of Saudi Arabia that the kingdom will increase oil production, "maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels" in response to turmoil in Iran and Venezuela.

Saudi Arabia acknowledged that the call took place, but mentioned no production targets.

Trump wrote on Twitter that he had asked the king in a phone call to boost oil production "to make up the difference ... Prices to (sic) high! He has agreed!"

A little over an hour later, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported on the call, but offered few details.

Oil prices have edged higher as the Trump administration has pushed allies to end all purchases of oil from Iran following the US pulling out of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

Prices also have risen with ongoing unrest in Venezuela and fighting in Libya over control of that country's oil infrastructure.