U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright signaled a potential shift in American strategy toward Iran on Sunday, stating the United States may forgo a negotiated nuclear deal in favor of militarily dismantling Tehran’s atomic capabilities. The remarks come as the conflict between the two nations enters its seventh month, with recent escalations targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure.
Wright: Nuclear Deal May Not Materialize
Appearing on ABC News’ “This Week,” Wright acknowledged the difficulty of reaching a diplomatic resolution to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“There may not be a nuclear agreement. It may be simply destroying their capabilities to do it,”
Wright said. He added that a diplomatic breakthrough might depend on a change in Iranian leadership.
“An agreement may await the next administration in Iran. We simply don’t know that.”
President Donald Trump has consistently identified preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon as a central objective. While the administration has sought a negotiated deal throughout the conflict, Wright’s comments suggest a growing willingness to pursue that goal through military degradation of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure rather than a formal accord.
Pressed on whether the U.S. would continue striking Iranian nuclear facilities as they attempt to rebuild, Wright was direct.
“You have to destroy their capabilities to do it.”
“We are degrading their capacity to develop nuclear weapons and ultimately to deliver them if they develop them,”
he stated.
“It is a 47-year-long effort. This is not trivial, but the United States will get the job done and we will work in cooperation with our allies in the region.”
Economic Strangulation and Military Posture
Later on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Wright clarified that Trump’s preference remains a negotiated settlement, though he detailed the current military mission’s economic focus.
“The biggest role of our military in the region right now is to stop the export of any Iranian crude or crude-related products, natural gas, whatever,”
Wright said.
“We are strangling their economy to try to bring either a change in policy from the existing regime or a new regime.”
Iran Vows Escalated Retaliation
Iranian officials responded with hardened rhetoric. Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared an end to “proportionate responses” to U.S. attacks.
“If they haven’t understood by now, they should understand before it’s too late that the rules of the game have changed and that from now on, any violation of Iran’s interests and security will receive a ‘faster, heavier, and more painful’ response,”
Ghalibaf posted on Telegram.
Ghalibaf also acknowledged severe domestic economic strain.
“Severe fluctuations in the exchange rate, inflation, unemployment, and market management are fundamental challenges that have put serious pressure on people’s livelihoods,”
he said, calling for greater reliance on domestic production and technology to devise solutions.
U.S. Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers
The exchange follows U.S. strikes on three Iranian crude oil carriers. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it permanently disabled one carrier off Kharg Island and another near Jask, while a third tanker was attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated Tehran plans to announce a new restriction zone outside the Strait of Hormuz, encompassing areas in the Gulf, according to Reuters.
CENTCOM characterized the tanker strikes as retaliation for ballistic missiles launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) toward two U.S. Navy warships. The command reported a U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer evaded the attacks with no American personnel harmed.
“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost —taking out three of yours,”
Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement Saturday.
“We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the sentiment on X:
“It’s simple: if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers. All they have to do is not shoot at @USNavy.”
Global Energy Supply Disruption
Iran, OPEC’s third-largest producer, previously exported 90% of its crude via Kharg Island. A U.S. blockade initiated in mid-April has disrupted these flows. The conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supply, since hostilities began on February 28 with American and Israeli airstrikes.
Trump escalated rhetoric in June, threatening to seize Kharg Island. On August 31, he posted an AI-generated video depicting the island’s destruction.
Sanctions Intensify Economic Pressure
The tanker strikes followed Treasury Department sanctions against a Turkish investment bank and two subsidiaries accused of facilitating funds for an IRGC arm. The measures are part of a sweeping late-August sanctions package targeting Iran’s access to digital assets, advanced technology, gold reserves, commercial aviation, and shipping.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently acknowledged a sharp decline in trade. The World Bank estimates Iran’s GDP contracted by 2.7% in the year ending March, citing economic disruption from widespread protests and regional hostilities. Inflation surged to 62.2% in February, with food price inflation hitting a historic 99%. An Iranian official estimated the war has cost one million jobs, according to the New York Times.
