Bessent: IRGC Leaders ‘Trapped Like Drowning Rats’ as Iran’s Oil Industry Begins to Shut

Reflecto News | Breaking News | US-Iran Conflict

WASHINGTON — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a characteristically blunt assessment of the impact of the American naval blockade on Iran, declaring that the Islamic Republic’s “creaking oil industry is starting to shut in production” and that the country could soon face crippling gasoline shortages.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday evening, Bessent issued a dire warning to Tehran, employing aggressive language to describe the predicament of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leadership as the economic pressure mounts.

“While the surviving IRGC Leaders are trapped like drowning rats in a sewage pipe, Iran’s creaking oil industry is starting to shut in production thanks to the U.S. BLOCKADE. Pumping will soon collapse. GASOLINE SHORTAGES IN IRAN NEXT!”
— U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

🛑 ‘Pumping Will Soon Collapse’: The Mechanics of the Blockade

Bessent’s statement is not merely political rhetoric; it reflects a significant tightening of the economic noose around Tehran. The U.S. naval blockade, imposed on Iranian ports on April 13 and reinforced by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has effectively strangled Iran’s ability to export its crude oil, which is the lifeblood of its economy.

The Impact on Iranian Oil
Research firm Kpler reported on Monday that the blockade has cut off Iran’s primary revenue stream, leading to a massive backup of unsold crude. The report states:

• Storage Crisis: Iran is rapidly running out of places to store its oil. Kpler analysts estimate the country has less than 22 days of unused storage capacity left.
• Production Cuts: Iran has already curtailed as much as 2.5 million barrels of daily crude production, according to Goldman Sachs.
• Export Collapse: Crude exports have plummeted to about 567,000 barrels a day, down sharply from 1.85 million barrels a day in March.

The blockage of exports means that Iran’s oil wells may soon have to be shut down entirely, a process Bessent described as “very bad for their wells,” as it can cause long-term, irreversible damage to oil reservoirs.

🐀 ‘Trapped Like Drowning Rats’: The IRGC Under Siege

Bessent’s vivid imagery—comparing the IRGC leaders to “drowning rats”—reflects the Administration’s view that the regime’s military masterminds are cornered.

This comes as intelligence reports suggest that the top echelons of the IRGC are in disarray following the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, which wounded the Supreme Leader and disrupted command and control structures.

The goal of the “maximum pressure” campaign is not just economic collapse but internal destabilization. Bessent hinted that the resulting economic pain—specifically “Gasoline Shortages” —could trigger public anger and potential uprisings against the regime, which historically has struggled to manage domestic fuel crises.

⛽ ‘Gasoline Shortages in Iran Next!’

Targeting gasoline is a specific and strategic threat to the Iranian regime. Despite being a major oil producer, Iran has historically lacked sufficient domestic refining capacity to meet its own gasoline needs.

• Vulnerable Population: Long lines at gas stations have been a flashpoint for protests in the past, threatening the stability of the regime.
• Logistical Nightmare: With ports blockaded, Iran cannot easily import the refined fuel it needs to keep its economy moving, nor can it export its raw crude to pay for it.

If the “pumping collapses” as Bessent predicts, Iran will be unable to feed its own refineries, leading to a cascading energy crisis that isolated the regime further.

💰 The ‘Economic Fury’ Campaign

Bessent followed up his initial remarks by reiterating the scope of the Treasury’s “Economic Fury” policy. He warned that the U.S. would target any third parties facilitating trade with Iran.

“We will continue our maximum pressure campaign on Iran. I call on foreign governments to take all actions necessary to ensure that companies in your jurisdictions do not provide services to sanctioned Iranian aircraft or vessels.”
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

This includes targeting shadow fleets, cryptocurrency networks used to launder money, and international companies that attempt to bypass the blockade.

📉 A Strategic ‘Exit Plan’?

While Bessent celebrates the collapse of Iran’s oil industry as a result of the blockade, his comments come amid a stalled diplomatic process. German Chancellor Olaf Merz recently criticized the U.S. for lacking a “strategic exit plan” in the conflict.

Bessent’s message implies a strategy: Total economic submission. By collapsing the oil industry, the U.S. hopes to force Tehran to accept Washington’s terms for a ceasefire—including the complete dismantling of their nuclear program and the submission of the IRGC—without the U.S. having to fire another shot.

📊 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers

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