U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant [AP Yonhap News]

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant defended the temporary lifting of sanctions on Iranian and Russian crude oil to stabilize oil prices, arguing that it would allow crude oil to go to other Asian allies and partners like South Korea and Japan instead of China.

Responding to a question on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday (local time) about whether Iran would gain $14 billion (21 trillion won) in revenue from the temporary lifting of sanctions on its crude oil, Secretary Bessant stated, "Iranian oil is always sold to China at a discount," adding, "If it goes to Indonesia, if it goes to Japan, if it goes to Korea, our situation improves."

He emphasized that $14 billion was an exaggerated figure.

Secretary Bessant reiterated the justification for the sanctions waiver, stating that the temporary lifting of sanctions on Iranian and Russian crude oil would largely allow the United States' Asian allies to purchase the oil instead of China.

Regarding President Donald Trump's statement threatening to destroy Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened within 48 hours, Bessant said, "Sometimes, to de-escalate tensions, we must escalate them."

When asked if President Trump was now escalating tensions after previously indicating a gradual reduction in military operations against Iran, he replied, "These are not mutually exclusive issues."

Bessant emphasized that "operations have been underway to weaken Iran's strongholds along the Strait of Hormuz, and they will continue until they are completely destroyed," and that President Trump would take all necessary measures to achieve the goals of the war with Iran.

Bessant stated that the U.S. government has sufficient funds for the war with Iran and drew a line, saying there would be no tax increases.

"We have plenty of funds to support this war," he said, calling the possibility of tax increases "an absurd question and something we are not considering at all."

Bessant argued that Americans could afford a temporary increase in oil prices given the expected outcomes of the war with Iran.

"I'm not trying to put a timeline on it, but let's say there's a temporary price increase for 50 days. For 50 years, during which the Iranian regime cannot possess nuclear weapons, prices will be stable, and thanks to President Trump, the American people are beginning to understand that there is no prosperity without security," he said.

He added, "We don't know if it will be 30 days, 50 days, or 100 days."

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz [Reuters Yonhap News]

Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN and former National Security Advisor in the second Trump administration, defended President Trump's threat to destroy Iranian power plants, stating, "The President is not playing games."

Speaking on Fox News, Ambassador Waltz noted that Iran has gas-fired power plants and other types of power plants, and anticipated that President Trump would begin by attacking one of Iran's largest power plants. He did not specify which power plant would be targeted.