U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News that Washington has imposed unprecedented pressure on the Islamic Republic through a blockade and a campaign of “economic expulsion,” with the goal of cutting off the flow of money to the Iranian government.

Bessent said he does not know how long these pressures will last—“one week, one month, or two months”—but, according to him, the Islamic Republic will ultimately “capitulate.”

He laid out three scenarios: “First, members of the government turn against each other, which is not impossible. Second, we witness some kind of uprising by the people of Iran. And third, if Iranians want a deal, we make them stick to it.”

Bessent also said that pressure on the Islamic Republic’s banking and transportation networks has increased, and that Washington will punish companies, investors, and institutions that help Tehran circumvent restrictions.

He added that in this regard the United States has cooperated with the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, targeting financial entities related to the transfer of billions of dollars for the Islamic Republic.

Bessent also said that despite the risk of attacks on oil tankers, oil exports continue, and that easing concern about supply was one of the factors behind the decline in oil prices compared to spring.