United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has predicted that Iran will exhaust its remaining oil shipments to China within two weeks, as the Trump administration's economic blockade intensifies its pressure on Tehran. Bessent characterised the situation as evidence that "Operation Economic Outcast" has left Iran economically isolated, with the regime facing "nothing left to trade for anything" once these final deliveries conclude. The administration is simultaneously rejecting Iran's negotiating proposals, with President Trump dismissing their latest offer as an attempt to revert to terms the US would have accepted a year ago.

The blockade has effectively cut off Iran's primary source of foreign revenue, with approximately 15 million barrels remaining in delivery. Iran had proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, but Bessent stated it is already operational, with the US allowing 15–22 million barrels daily passage (compared to approximately 20 million pre-conflict). The Trump administration framed the comparison starkly: over one billion barrels have successfully transited whilst Iran's exports face severe restrictions. The stated objective of the economic pressure campaign is to ensure any future agreement with Iran includes binding enforcement mechanisms, given Tehran's previous non-compliance with prior agreements.