US Energy Secretary: "Iran Has Exported Oil Even Before Sanctions Eased... Limited Practical Benefit"

Secretary Chris Wright Discusses Iran Oil Sanctions in CNBC Interview

Chris Wright, the United States Secretary of Energy, stated on the 25th (local time) that the easing of sanctions on Iranian crude oil would bring only limited practical benefits to the Iranian economy. He explained that Iran has continued to export between 1.5 million and 2 million barrels of crude oil per day even under existing sanctions.

Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy, is speaking at a U.S. House hearing held in Washington on the 10th (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News

In an interview with U.S. financial media outlet CNBC on the same day, Secretary Wright said, "Iran will again be able to export crude oil at volumes similar to those during the Biden administration," adding, "Even now, Iran has the capacity to produce and export 1.5 million to 2 million barrels per day, and has maintained this level of exports despite the sanctions."

He continued, "Until now, Iran has sold most of its crude oil to China and received payments in yuan, and there have been cases where it had to purchase more Chinese products than needed." He emphasized, "With the easing of sanctions, Iran will be able to sell crude oil to countries other than China and receive payments in dollars, but this is not a major concession by the United States." He added, "This measure is part of the process to begin dialogue with Iran," and noted, "The dialogue may lead to constructive outcomes, or it may not."

Regarding Iran's frozen assets, Secretary Wright stated, "Receiving payments in dollars for crude oil sales and releasing existing frozen assets are separate issues," and clarified, "The frozen assets accumulated from previous crude oil sales remain locked, and even if they are released in the future, their use will be strictly controlled."

In the United States, hardline Republicans have criticized the easing of sanctions on Iranian crude oil as an excessive concession to the Tehran regime. Conservative campaign strategist Karl Rove also strongly criticized the Trump administration in a column published in The Wall Street Journal on the 24th, arguing that the easing of Iranian oil sanctions, the granting of access to frozen assets, and the promise of reconstruction support all represent concessions to Iran that go even further than the 2015 Obama nuclear agreement.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.