2 weeks ago
US Vows Unprecedented Iran Sanctions, Indefinite Hormuz Naval Blockade
The United States and Iran are fighting a war.
The US Navy is stopping ships from going in or out of Iran's ports, and the Navy's leader, Pete Hegseth, says America can keep doing this for as long as it needs to.
America's money leader, Scott Bessent, says the US will use new money rules against Iran that have never been used on any country before.
Vice President JD Vance says the most important goal is to keep gas and oil prices low for Americans, and stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon comes second.
President Donald Trump sees it differently — he says stopping the nuclear weapon was the whole reason for the war.
Israel told America that Iran planned to hurt President Trump, maybe with a sniper or a knife, but American spies could not prove it.
Iran's army says the US is wrong about ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, and that no ship passes without Iran's permission.
Two oil tankers from the United Arab Emirates were attacked while sailing through that waterway, but nobody was hurt, and Yemen's Houthi rebels said they fired two missiles at another nearby waterway.
America says it will share more news about its new Iran measures next week.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington will impose on Iran economic isolation measures 'never seen in the history of economic isolation on a country,' with more announcements expected next week.
Vice President JD Vance said Washington's top goal is keeping oil and gas cheap for Americans, with preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon ranked second, contrasting President Trump's framing.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US Navy can maintain the naval blockade of Iranian ports 'indefinitely,' while Trump claims 'total control' over the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters reported that US intelligence could not verify Israeli warnings of Iranian assassination plots against President Trump, including sniper or knife attacks.
Iran's military disputed US claims that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was normal, as two Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tankers were attacked in the strait and Houthi rebels fired two missiles at Bab al-Mandeb.
- Who
- US officials: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump; also Israel, Iran's military, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen's Houthi rebels.
- What
- The US announced unprecedented economic isolation measures against Iran, pledged an indefinite naval blockade of Iranian ports, and fielded unverified Israeli warnings of Iranian assassination plots against Trump.
- Where
- United States; Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports; Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
- When
- Statements came on a Thursday; the 12-day war began in June last year, and Washington attacked Tehran in February.
- Why
- To pressure Iran — with Vance citing cheap oil and gas for Americans as goal number one and nuclear-weapon prevention second, while Trump framed nuclear-weapon prevention as the sole objective.
Vice President JD Vance
President Donald Trump
Top US goal in the Iran war
Vice President JD Vance
Keeping oil and gas prices low for Americans is goal number one, with preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon ranked second.
President Donald Trump
The conflict was entered with the sole objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, even if that meant short-term economic sacrifices for Americans.
Key facts
- Conflict
- US-Iran war; 12-day war began in June last year
- New US measures
- Economic isolation 'never seen in the history of economic isolation on a country' plus continued Strait of Hormuz blockade, per Scott Bessent
- Next announcements
- Expected next week, per Bessent
- Top US goal (Vance)
- Keep oil and gas cheap for Americans; prevent Iranian nuclear weapon ranked second
- Naval blockade
- US Navy can maintain it 'indefinitely' by rotating ships in and out, per Pete Hegseth
- Strait of Hormuz status
- Trump claims 'total control'; Iran's military says no vessel transits without Iranian authorization
- Assassination warnings
- Israel warned of Iranian plots against Trump; US intelligence could not independently verify (Reuters)
- Maritime incidents
- Two Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tankers attacked in Hormuz with no injuries; Houthis fired two missiles at Bab al-Mandeb
Quotes
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
US Treasury Secretary
“"It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports."”
livemint.com
“"Watch this space for more announcements coming next week because we are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country."”
CNBC TV 18
livemint.com
Vice President JD Vance
US Vice President
“"Washington's objectives in the conflict were to stabilise American energy prices, prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and ultimately emerge from the standoff in a position of strength."”
CNBC TV 18
“"I know that oil is down today and it's way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict, and that’s goal number one – keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country."”
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