Tensions involving the US? Because the combination of the US and Canada has been self-sufficient in petroleum for a few years now: i.e., the US need go no further than Canada to get all the oil it needs. The US would be self-sufficient now if the Saudis hadn't lowered their prices about 6 years ago in an explicit attempt to discourage US production; as it is, US self-sufficiency will take a few more years.
Now that the US has the technical means to extract "tight oil" just the state of Texas has enough extractible oil to last the US 100 years, I saw one expert say recently.
(Of course, burning all that oil would cause horrible climate change, but that is true of the Iranian oil, too.)
I have long suspected that the USA deliberately held back its own oil production to maintain a strategic reserve. This policy seems to be ending though as evidenced by today's high domestic production.
Assuming this is true, can you show me the benefit of a past military campaign against an oil-rich power? Iraq would be my preference, but I’m open to whatever example you have at hand.
It's not a matter of state. It's a market like any other. Think how common usurpation is in the financial sector -- LIBOR scandal, Bank of England audio leaks, Flash Trading Arbitrage, Goldman Sachs's ABACUS scam.
Then, apply the same tactics to energy.
Modern wars are not political, they are theatre to distract from the real goal, pillaging by the crony capitalists.
Just look at how many times they've tried to trick Trump into war.
1) The White Helmets faked a chlorine bomb in Duoma, then
2) CNN faked a Venezuelan military revolt,
3) also framed Molotov cocktail attacks, and
4) the Hawaiian nuke warning was faked. And now,
5) Iranian terrorists just waltz through security and set off an explosion at a US embassy.
If you want to talk about Iraq, then you'll have to go ALL the way back and look up Building 7.
Now that the US has the technical means to extract "tight oil" just the state of Texas has enough extractible oil to last the US 100 years, I saw one expert say recently.
(Of course, burning all that oil would cause horrible climate change, but that is true of the Iranian oil, too.)