Treasury Secretary Bessent predicts Iran will exhaust oil shipments to China within two weeks

<p>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Sunday that Iran is expected to complete its remaining oil shipments to China within two weeks, which he claims will leave Tehran with "nothing left to trade for anything" as the U.S. intensifies its economic pressure campaign against the regime.</p><p>Bessent noted that approximately 15 million barrels of Iranian oil remain available for delivery, attributing the decline in shipments to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. He described the situation as evidence that Operation Economic Outcast has left Iran economically isolated.</p><p>He stated, "They will have nothing to trade for anything, probably within the next two weeks. They are going to make their final deliveries of oil to China, and then they will have nothing."</p><p>Bessent expressed his belief that Iran is "feeling the pressure," which has led to their renewed interest in negotiating a deal. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran's latest proposal on Saturday, indicating that Iran has "overplayed their hand."</p><p>Trump mentioned, "I expect more talks with Iran [this week]. They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make. It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand."</p><p>Tehran had proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a significant waterway for global oil shipping. Bessent stated that the strait is already open, with current averages of oil shipments ranging from 15 to 22 million barrels a day, compared to about 20 million barrels pre-conflict.</p><p>Bessent emphasized the goal of Operation Economic Outcast is to ensure Iran adheres to any potential future agreement, stating, "They are isolated from the world. They're a pariah state. And my job is to make sure that, when they come with a deal, that they want to stick to it. They did not stick to the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding]. And, next time, if there is a deal — that's at President Trump's discretion — that they will stick to it, because they are on their knees."</p><p><i>Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.</i></p>