ByESTHER DAVIS, AMICHAI STEIN, REUTERS

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that the United States is going to apply measures that have "never been seen" on Iran.

"Watch this space for more announcements coming next week because we are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country," Bessent said in an interview on on Newsmax's "Rob Schmitt Tonight" program.

"It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports," Bessent said.

This came shortly after US Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that "goal number one is to keep oil and gas cheap for the American people all across our country. Goal number two is to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon," emphasizing the importance of an economic approach to confronting Iran.

CENTCOM Commander Cooper visits Israel

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited Israel on Monday and spoke to senior IDF commanders about US-Israeli military relations and the war with Iran.

US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), speaks with crew members of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius.
US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), speaks with crew members of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius. (credit: US Navy/Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Amanda Dunford/Handout via REUTERS)

Cpt.Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM) told The Jerusalem Post that reports that Cooper said during his visit to Israel that he had pushed for renewed strikes against Iran were untrue.

Hawkins told the Post that claims that Cooper had pushed for a resumption of the conflict against Iran were "an outright fabrication. It's not true at all."