Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that a nuclear agreement with Iran, a long-standing objective for the Trump administration, may not materialize following months of conflict.
"There may not be a nuclear agreement. It may be simply destroying their capabilities to do it. An agreement may await a next administration in Iran. We simply don't know that," Wright told ABC News' "This Week." When asked how the U.S. intends to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon without a deal, Wright asserted that U.S. military actions have already degraded the country's ability to produce one.
"We are degrading their capacity to develop nuclear weapons and ultimately to deliver them, if they develop them," he said. "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."
In August, President Trump had also indicated that a satisfactory deal with Iran might not be reached, despite initial administration goals. "They want to make a deal, but they're not going to make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary," Trump told reporters.
Wright's remarks coincide with an apparent escalation in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. On Saturday, the U.S. struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iran targeted two U.S. Navy warships. Tehran subsequently claimed to have launched retaliatory strikes on three U.S.-affiliated vessels and three oil tankers.
"Look, it's a challenge. Iran is doing everything they can to cling on to something," Wright said Sunday when pressed on the conflict. "They know their nuclear program is coming to an end, their navy's come to an end, their air force has come to an end. They're clinging on to power as the United States continues to escalate the volume of oil that transits through the Strait of Hormuz."
Wright further stated that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would "either change their regime or it'll change their regime's policies."
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Wright reported that the seven-day average of oil transit is currently over nine million barrels a day, the highest it has ever been. When factoring in bypass pipelines through Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the total flow out of the region approaches 13 to 14 million barrels a day.
On the subject of gas prices, Wright noted that futures prices for gasoline in November are approximately 35 cents cheaper than current prices, suggesting market expectations for a decrease. He attributed this to declining demand after the summer driving season and efforts to increase gasoline production.
In relation to Venezuela, Wright highlighted U.S. leverage over the country, stating that control over oil sales outside Venezuela is encouraging billions of dollars in investment and transforming the region. He expressed a positive outlook for the Western Hemisphere under this arrangement.