U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has warned that Iran could face tighter sanctions if it fails to reach an agreement with President Donald Trump over its nuclear programme.
In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Wright said, “Absolutely, I would expect very tight sanctions on Iran, and hopefully drive them to abandon their nuclear program.” The remarks come just ahead of his first diplomatic tour to the Middle East as energy chief.
Wright will begin a nearly two-week visit to three Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia — the de facto leader of OPEC. The trip is expected to focus on energy cooperation, market stability, and strategic alignment in a region undergoing geopolitical realignment.
At home, Wright also defended President Trump’s forthcoming executive order to revive the U.S. coal industry. He argued that coal is essential to power artificial intelligence data centres, as well as meet the energy needs of steel and industrial production.
“We need a growing supply of electricity to hit the AI boom and also for this re-industrializing of the United States,” Wright said. “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.”
The energy chief also addressed Trump’s calls for the European Union to buy more American energy. “I’ve had countries in Asia, in Europe, and elsewhere reach out to express interest in buying more American energy,” he said.
On Europe’s long-term energy strategy, Wright was blunt: “As I talk to European leaders, one thing they all share is a regret that they bet their energy future on Russia. I don’t think there’s a huge desire that, when the war is over, we’re going to re-count on Russia.”
Wright’s remarks underscore a broader shift in U.S. energy policy — one that blends foreign policy leverage with a renewed push for domestic production. As tensions with Iran escalate and Europe recalibrates its energy dependence, Washington appears ready to assert itself on multiple fronts.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have denied reports of talks with the U.S. over a potential ground offensive in Yemen, dismissing the claims as false and unsubstantiated amid ongoing tensions with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov discussed progress in the delimitation and demarcation of borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the restoration of transport links between the two countries, during a press conference with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.
U.S. and French officials meet in Paris to align strategies on ending the Ukraine war and preventing escalation with Iran.
As the US-China trade war escalates under President Donald Trump’s administration, viral TikTok videos are encouraging Americans to bypass tariffs by buying directly from Chinese factories, sparking fresh concerns over counterfeit goods and luxury brand credibility.
Malaysia will dispatch its trade and second finance ministers to the United States later this month to address U.S. tariff measures, in line with a collective ASEAN response to rising trade tensions, the government said Thursday.
As trade tensions with the United States reach new heights, China has issued a firm rebuke to the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs of up to 245% on Chinese imports, dismissing the measures as a “tariff numbers game” and vowing not to yield to external pressure.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have denied reports of talks with the U.S. over a potential ground offensive in Yemen, dismissing the claims as false and unsubstantiated amid ongoing tensions with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov discussed progress in the delimitation and demarcation of borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the restoration of transport links between the two countries, during a press conference with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.
A trilateral meeting between the representatives of the foreign ministries of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia was held in Tbilisi, where the sides discussed prospects for regional stability and cooperation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned Estonia's recent detention of a Russia-bound oil tanker, labeling it a provocative action that threatens both shipping safety and regional security in the Baltic Sea.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A quiet Thursday afternoon at St. Peter’s Basilica turned into something extraordinary, as visitors caught a rare glimpse of Pope Francis — not in his familiar white papal robes, but dressed in black trousers and a striped blanket.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
As trade tensions with the United States reach new heights, China has issued a firm rebuke to the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs of up to 245% on Chinese imports, dismissing the measures as a “tariff numbers game” and vowing not to yield to external pressure.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned Estonia's recent detention of a Russia-bound oil tanker, labeling it a provocative action that threatens both shipping safety and regional security in the Baltic Sea.
U.S. and French officials meet in Paris to align strategies on ending the Ukraine war and preventing escalation with Iran.
As the US-China trade war escalates under President Donald Trump’s administration, viral TikTok videos are encouraging Americans to bypass tariffs by buying directly from Chinese factories, sparking fresh concerns over counterfeit goods and luxury brand credibility.
Malaysia will dispatch its trade and second finance ministers to the United States later this month to address U.S. tariff measures, in line with a collective ASEAN response to rising trade tensions, the government said Thursday.
As trade tensions with the United States reach new heights, China has issued a firm rebuke to the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs of up to 245% on Chinese imports, dismissing the measures as a “tariff numbers game” and vowing not to yield to external pressure.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have denied reports of talks with the U.S. over a potential ground offensive in Yemen, dismissing the claims as false and unsubstantiated amid ongoing tensions with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov discussed progress in the delimitation and demarcation of borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the restoration of transport links between the two countries, during a press conference with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.
A trilateral meeting between the representatives of the foreign ministries of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia was held in Tbilisi, where the sides discussed prospects for regional stability and cooperation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned Estonia's recent detention of a Russia-bound oil tanker, labeling it a provocative action that threatens both shipping safety and regional security in the Baltic Sea.
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