Energy Secretary Wright says Iran nuclear deal may wait for future government

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the United States may not reach a nuclear agreement with Iran, suggesting diplomacy could give way to continued efforts to destroy or degrade Iran’s ability to develop and deliver nuclear weapons. He said a deal might have to wait for a future Iranian administration, lowering expectations for a diplomatic settlement that President Donald Trump had previously described as a key objective. The comments came as the conflict entered its seventh month, with U.S. and Iranian forces exchanging attacks at sea and Washington imposing military and economic pressure, including strikes on Iranian oil carriers. U.S. officials say the campaign is intended to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while Tehran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful and has warned of stronger retaliation. The fighting and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz have also intensified concerns about global energy supplies and contributed to sharply higher U.S. gasoline prices. Reports cite at least 18 U.S. service members killed and billions of dollars in costs, though the sources differ in their descriptions of the conflict’s scale and prospects for resolution.