U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that no Iranian oil will be transported by sea this week and there will be no related revenue, as Washington intensifies what he described as "unprecedented actions" aimed at economically isolating Tehran.
"This is the first time in their history since they started pumping oil that there will be no Iranian oil on the water this week," Bessent said in an interview broadcast on Saturday. "They will have no revenue."
Bessent said the economic pressure is a follow-up to a series of deliberate military and economic measures taken against Iran.
"We took 'kinetic' action (meaning military strikes), destroying their navy and air force, significantly degrading their drone and missile capabilities, and crushing their ability to rebuild them," he said.
"Then we turned to what the president calls the 'Iron Wall' and blockade strategy — something we have never done," Bessent added. "And now, we are implementing 'Operation Economic Outcast,' isolating them economically in an unprecedented way."