US Treasury Secretary Bessent says Iran faces three options under pressure

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz and that the United States remains the decisive force in the region, according to remarks reported on Thursday. Bessent attributed Iran's recent military moves near the strait to panic driven by worsening economic pressure on Tehran, rather than strategic calculation. Bessent outlined three options he said Iran now faces: a shift in direction within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a popular uprising against the government, or a return to the negotiating table. He argued that economic pressure has pushed Tehran toward military responses. The comments come amid heightened regional tensions. US President Donald Trump announced that strikes had been carried out on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, according to earlier reports.