Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks with CNBC on August 4, 2026.
CNBC
The United States plans to apply “unprecedented economic measures against Iran,” according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“This will be a combination of economic isolation the likes of which the world has never seen before and a continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz that will prevent goods from entering and exiting Iranian ports,” Bessent said in an interview with Newsmax, without elaborating further.
His remarks came as U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly said in the United States late Thursday that the U.S. military could continue its naval blockade against Iran “indefinitely.” Hegseth told reporters that the Navy “will continue to rotate ships in and out, as we have in the past.”
The US aircraft carrier USS George Washington is headed to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed to the Middle East for more than 250 days, according to media reports. Its deployment was expected to end in May.
The George Washington Strike Group departed Vietnam on August 12, the Navy said in a statement.
Hegseth also told reporters that reports about poor conditions aboard the Lincoln, including food shortages, low morale and even attempts by sailors to jump, were “totally misrepresented.”
After Hegseth’s comments, Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) said on
“Reports from military families and loved ones about conditions aboard the USS Lincoln are completely unacceptable. Reports include concerns about moldy showers, broken toilets, lack of hot water, lack of access to fresh food, and shortages of supplies,” the letter said.
Sailors and Marines have an “overwhelming workload,” which contributes to “extreme fatigue and burnout,” he said.
In a post on X, U.S. Central Command said reports that there was a scuffle aboard the aircraft carrier were false and that no service members were killed.
This came after Iranian media reported on Tuesday that seven U.S. Navy personnel were killed and several others injured in a “violent collision” aboard the Lincoln.
