Brian Mast

Rep Brian Mast was on “Sunday Morning Futures” with guest host Cheryl Casone to discuss the US policy “Operation Economic Outcast” against Iran.

President Trump launched this campaign against the Iranian regime to isolate it economically. The Treasury Department is using its resources to cut off Iran’s economy from the rest of the world.

“Treasury Secretary Bessent on Friday, he threatened also to cut off $1.8 billion in Iranian shadow banking funds by targeting a major bank in the UAE. Do you think that all of these actions put more pressure on Iran to come back to the table?” Casone asked.

“It’s not a question about more pressure being put on them. It’s total pressure. Everything is coming to bear. What is the result that this has brought? You spoke already about where their currency is. We spoke about the ships transiting the strait. Iran has only been able to target about 2 percent throughout the month of August of any ship going through the Strait of Hormuz,” Mast said.

“Those shipments going out of the Strait of Hormuz are almost at pre-conflict levels right now,” Mast continued.

Rep Mast explained that anyone helping Iran would be targeted economically as well.

“Anybody that assists Iran in anyway whatsoever, they are going to be targeted. That’s especially big for China, for Pakistan, for India, for a number of countries like Russia,” Mast said.

“UAE has already announced that they are going to totally move away from Iran,” Mast said.

“The Chinese have been the economic engine that has been powering Tehran and also their proxies. Does this change the dynamic, in your opinion, of this meeting between President Trump and Xi Jinping?” Casone asked.

“Absolutely it does. This is President Trump at its best, showing that he is the great deal maker that so many have touted him to be,” Mast said.

Rep Mast explained that China is one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil. Now that they won’t be purchasing from them, a majority of Iran’s oil will not be sold. China will also not have access to Venezuelan oil since Russia won’t have access to sell it to them. That will also put Russia at a disadvantage.

“China is no longer going to be purchasing up let’s say 80, 90 percent of Iranian oil. They no longer have the opportunity to soak up 80 to 90 percent of Venezuelan oil. That’s actually now going to go to the United States of America instead of China, not on Russian ships. So, Russia isn’t going to benefit from that,” Mast continued.

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