US Energy Secretary sees tighter sanctions on Iran without deal

WASHINGTON – US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on April 8 that Iran can expect tighter sanctions if it does not come to an agreement with President Donald Trump on its nuclear programme.

“So absolutely, I would expect very tight sanctions on Iran, and hopefully drive them to abandon their nuclear programme,” Mr Wright said in an interview with CNBC.

Mr Wright on April 9 will launch a nearly two-week tour of three Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia, marking his first visit as a US official to the de facto leader of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or Opec, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Mr Wright also defended Mr Trump’s executive order, expected later on April 8, to boost the coal industry as essential for artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, as well as steel production and other industrial activities.

“We need a growing supply of electricity to hit the AI boom and also for this re-industrialising of the United States. If we want to grow America’s electricity production meaningfully over the next five or 10 years, we’ve got to stop closing coal plants,” Mr Wright said in the interview.

Asked about Mr Trump’s comment that the European Union should buy more energy from the United States, Mr Wright said he has had countries in Asia, in Europe and elsewhere reach out to express interest in buying more American energy.

Mr Wright said he does not think European countries will want to return to Russia for their energy supplies when the war in Ukraine ends.

“As I talk to European leaders, one thing they all share is a regret that they bet their energy future on Russia,” he said. “So I don’t think there’s a huge desire right now that, when the war is over, we’re going to we’re going to re-count on Russia for a dominant share of our energy supply. I think that’s very unlikely to unfold.” REUTERS