Treasury secretary Bessent discusses oil crisis and Iran on CNBC

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on CNBC on Monday to address rising oil prices amid tensions with Iran. He outlined the administration's strategy to neutralize Iran's military capabilities and manage global oil supply disruptions. Bessent also defended a temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions.

On Monday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke on CNBC about the current situation in global energy markets, with U.S.-traded oil reaching $100 per barrel for only the third time in a decade. He described the focus on the 'head of the snake' in Tehran and stated that President Trump aims to 'degrade and destroy the capabilities, the military capabilities of the regime, to destroy the Navy, which is done, the Air Force, which is done.' Bessent noted that bombing campaigns are now targeting factories to prevent recreation of these assets, calling it a 'generational opportunity to end this.'

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Illustration depicting US Navy escorting oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz amid volatile oil prices and White House statement correction.
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White House walks back navy escort claim as oil prices fluctuate

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Oil prices swung sharply on Tuesday after a U.S. Energy Secretary's claim of a Navy escort through the Strait of Hormuz was corrected by the White House, amid ongoing disruptions from the U.S.-led operation against Iran. Brent crude fell to around $81 per barrel before recovering to close near $91. The incident highlights efforts to stabilize oil flows through the strait, which carries 20% of the world's oil.

President Trump justified U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear program despite oil prices topping $100 per barrel, following Iranian attacks on tankers that disrupted Gulf shipping. He prioritized preventing Iran's nuclear armament over short-term energy costs, announcing further measures to ease U.S. gas prices.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has launched Operation Economic Fury, a campaign targeting Iran's illicit oil networks and terror financiers with new sanctions. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned more than two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels, including the network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. The measures include warnings of secondary sanctions and the non-renewal of oil purchase licenses expiring April 19.

Following his recent suggestion of winding down U.S. operations, President Trump threatened new strikes on Iran while lifting sanctions and requesting massive funding, underscoring strategic uncertainty in the third-week war.

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Oil prices surged about 20% on Monday as the expanding U.S.-Israeli war with Iran prompted major Middle Eastern producers to cut supplies, reaching highs not seen since July 2022. Iraq and Kuwait have reduced output, amid fears of prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict could impose weeks or months of elevated fuel costs worldwide, even if it resolves quickly.

Brent crude briefly rose above $100 a barrel early Thursday after two oil tankers were reported struck by projectiles near Iraq, adding to supply fears tied to the Iran war and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials said President Donald Trump authorized a 172 million-barrel release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve beginning next week.

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Following the early March escalation in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, South Africa's financial markets continue to reel, with 10-year bond yields hitting 9.5% and the JSE All Share Index down 20% this month. US President Donald Trump's announcement of productive talks with Iran on 23 March 2026, postponing strikes, provided brief relief, but oil shocks persist, heightening stagflation risks for emerging markets like South Africa.

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