Treasury secretary defends U.S. military actions in Iran: 'Sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate'
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s infrastructure, stating that escalation is sometimes necessary to achieve de-escalation, and supported President Trump’s aggressive rhetoric toward Iran.
- President Trump threatened military strikes on Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours, while Iran warned it would retaliate against U.S. fuel, energy, and IT infrastructure if its own oil facilities are attacked.
- The U.S. has avoided targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure so far but is considering sending troops to secure Kharg Island, a strategic Iranian oil hub, with all options reportedly on the table.
- The Treasury Department eased sanctions to allow the sale of Iranian oil stranded at sea, aiming
