Bessant's statement that "Iran is not ready" is merely the Trump administration's assessment of the terms of an agreement. Iranian President Peschichiyan publicly stated on August 31 that he hoped to reach an agreement through dialogue, but the resumption of fighting between the US and Iran that same day indicates that both sides are still far from accepting the same set of conditions.
Furthermore, Bessant's recent mention of "oil prices falling" seems more like a bet on the White House's policy path: if the US suppresses its mine-laying capabilities and pushes for the resumption of navigation at the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with weakening global demand, the geopolitical risk premium could quickly be reversed. However, actual logistics have not yet validated this assessment—only about five commodity ships were visible in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, and Brent crude oil briefly rose to $91.52; a Reuters survey predicts that the crude oil market will still be in short supply by 1.65 million to 3.5 million barrels per day in 2026. In addition, the US Treasury is targeting Iranian oil transportation and financial networks with a "zero-leakage" approach. Before forcing Iran to make concessions, sanctions may instead tighten supply first.
