Washington, April 29 (ANI): US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Iran’s oil industry is under severe pressure due to ongoing financial and maritime restrictions, claiming that the country’s primary export terminal at Kharg Island is nearing full storage capacity.
In a post on social media, Bessent said the saturation could force Tehran to reduce oil output, potentially leading to daily revenue losses of up to USD 170 million and causing long-term damage to its energy infrastructure.
He said the Treasury Department is expanding sanctions enforcement under what he referred to as “Operation Fury,” targeting Iran’s international financial and trade networks.
According to Bessent, the measures are aimed at disrupting Iran’s “shadow banking infrastructure,” cryptocurrency channels, oil shipping networks, weapons procurement systems, and funding routes linked to regional proxy groups.
He also said the initiative includes actions against independent Chinese “teapot” refineries allegedly involved in purchasing Iranian crude.
Bessent said the coordinated strategy is designed to cut off what he described as tens of billions of dollars in revenue used to support global instability, adding that Iran’s oil sector is “creaking” under pressure from the ongoing US blockade.
He further claimed that Iran’s capacity to sustain oil production is weakening significantly due to restricted maritime access and financial constraints.
The comments come alongside broader US messaging on Iran’s economic and military position. At a White House state dinner, President Donald Trump said Iran had been “militarily defeated,” while reiterating that Washington would not allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.
Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration has instructed officials to prepare for a prolonged blockade strategy aimed at tightening pressure on Iran’s economy and limiting its maritime trade.
The reported approach is intended to increase economic strain on Tehran and push it toward concessions in ongoing geopolitical negotiations, particularly over its nuclear programme. (ANI)
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