US official says Washington may abandon Iran nuclear deal and destroy its ability to build atomic weapons

The United States could abandon the pursuit of a nuclear agreement with Iran and instead destroy the country’s ability to develop atomic weapons, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday.

“There may be no nuclear agreement. Its capabilities to do so may simply be destroyed,” Wright said in an interview with ABC. He added that a deal with Tehran might have to wait until a new US administration takes office.

His comments came after Iran bombarded a US vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the report, in response to US attacks on Iranian oil tankers the previous day. The new hostilities have unfolded as the war, which began more than six months ago, has driven fuel prices higher and interrupted traffic through the strategic waterway.

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There may be no nuclear agreement. Its capabilities to do so may simply be destroyed.

The Strait of Hormuz carried 20% of the world’s crude oil before the conflict. Washington and Tehran have held direct and indirect talks for months over an agreement to end the conflict. In June, they signed a memorandum of understanding that opened a new dialogue process and included measures concerning Iran’s enriched uranium reserves and their reduction under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision. The negotiations have not resulted in a definitive nuclear deal.

In the United States, the average gasoline price reached a record of about $4.14 per gallon over the Labor Day weekend, according to American Automobile Association data. The organization linked the increase to “persistent volatility in the Strait of Hormuz,” which it said had pushed crude prices into the $90-per-barrel range.

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Persistent volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed the price of crude into the $90-per-barrel range.