US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced that the United States will continue its blockade of Iranian ports, signaling a further escalation in economic pressure on Tehran.
He warned that Iran’s oil infrastructure could soon face shutdowns as storage capacity reaches its limits.
Bessent said the United States, under Donald Trump, will continue the naval blockade of Iranian ports, reinforcing Washington’s strategy to choke off Iran’s key revenue streams.
He emphasized that constraining Iran’s maritime trade directly targets the regime’s primary economic lifelines, particularly oil exports.
As @POTUS has made clear, the United States Navy will continue the blockade of Iranian ports. In a matter of days, Kharg Island storage will be full and the fragile Iranian oil wells will be shut in. Constraining Iran’s maritime trade directly targets the regime’s primary…
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 21, 2026
Kharg Island storage nearing full capacity
According to the treasury secretary, oil storage facilities on Kharg Island are expected to reach full capacity within days.
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Bessent warned that once storage is exhausted, Iran’s weaker oil wells will be forced to shut down, dealing a direct blow to production. He described the country’s oil infrastructure as increasingly fragile under sustained economic and logistical pressure.
‘Maximum pressure’ policy to continue
Reaffirming Washington’s stance, Bessent said the US will continue its policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran through what he called “Economic Fury.”
The strategy aims to systematically degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, transport, and repatriate funds, further isolating its economy.
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The secretary issued a strong warning that any individual or vessel involved in facilitating Iranian oil trade or financial flows, including covert operations, could face US sanctions. He stressed that such activities would be exposed and targeted as part of ongoing enforcement efforts.
US vows to freeze ‘stolen funds’
Bessent also stated that the United States will continue freezing funds allegedly taken by Iran’s leadership, saying the move is intended to protect the interests of the Iranian people.
He accused the country’s leadership of corruption, adding that financial restrictions would remain in place on their assets.
The continued blockade and tightening sanctions are expected to further strain Iran’s economy, particularly its oil-dependent revenues.
