US energy secretary: Trump administration ready to enforce sanctions on Iranian oil

Former US President Donald Trump’s administration is prepared to reimpose strict enforcement of sanctions on Iranian oil exports if he returns to office, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.

Speaking at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Wright emphasized that Trump’s previous term significantly curbed Iran’s oil exports, a measure he suggested was reversed under the Biden administration, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bloomberg.

“When he was president last time, Iranian oil exports shrunk down to very modest levels,” Wright stated in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “Biden didn’t remove those sanctions, but he stopped enforcing them. That enriched Iran. And now we’ve seen what’s happened with the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas. It’s been mayhem.”

Wright argued that Trump’s policy would aim to restore stability by tightening pressure on Tehran. “So, is President Trump looking to stop the mayhem and bring peace to the world? Absolutely. Can we afford the squeezing off of Iranian oil exports? Absolutely,” he said.

During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions, leading to a sharp decline in Iran’s oil revenue. However, since 2021, Iranian oil exports have rebounded, with China remaining a key buyer.

With the 2024 presidential election bringing Trump back into the political spotlight, his administration’s stance on Iran remains a critical issue in U.S. foreign policy and global energy markets.

By Khagan Isayev