On a visit to Abu Dhabi this week, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright made a bold statement: “the U.S. can stop Iran’s oil exports”.

The U.S. plans to do this as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified pressure campaign against Tehran.

Yep, it’s déjà vu from 2018. With Trump back in the White House, the U.S. is taking a hardline stance on Iran’s nuclear program, and oil is once again in the crosshairs.

Red, Yellow, or Green Light?

Speaking in Abu Dhabi, Wright emphasized the feasibility of this strategy, stating, “We can follow the ships leaving Iran. We know where they go. We can stop Iran’s export of oil.”

This assertion underscores the administration’s commitment to using economic sanctions to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran’s oil exports had rebounded during Joe Biden’s presidency and continued to remain steady in 2025, largely due to purchases by China, which opposes unilateral sanctions.

Wright asserted that U.S. capabilities could track and potentially block Iranian oil shipments, although he did not specify operational details.

“We Can Follow the Ships Leaving Iran.”

In a candid conversation with Reuters, Wright didn’t mince words.

“President Trump actually did it in the first term,” he said, referring to the previous crackdown on Iranian oil exports. “We can follow the ships leaving Iran. We know where they go. We can stop Iran’s export of oil.”

While he didn’t detail exactly how that would go down, he made it clear that “everything is on the table,” including economic sanctions and even potential military pressure.

Oil Markets and Global Tensions

This announcement comes at a pivotal time.

Iran’s oil exports have been surprisingly steady through 2025, even with Trump back in office. A lot of that crude is headed to China, which has pushed back hard against any unilateral sanctions from the U.S.

Meanwhile, Iran says it’s giving upcoming high-level nuclear talks with the U.S. a “genuine chance”, but Trump’s threats of bombing if diplomacy fails have added major tension to the mix.

Will This Hit Oil Prices?

Not necessarily, at least not yet.

Wright says that oil prices are in a “comfortable” place right now, and under Trump’s policies, demand and supply will grow steadily.

That’s good news for the economy, and for anyone sweating their gas bill.

Wright was quick to point out there’s no direct coordination between the U.S. and OPEC+, the oil-producing bloc led by Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Still, he emphasized that the U.S. shares a close bond with Gulf nations, who, like the U.S., don’t want to see a nuclear-armed Iran.

After his Abu Dhabi stop, Wright is heading to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, continuing his first official trip abroad as Energy Secretary.

Expect more headlines as the U.S. reinforces alliances and doubles down on its energy agenda in the Middle East.