New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- The United States says its economic pressure on Iran is working and expects the conflict to end with Tehran unable to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran, however, has warned Washington that further attacks will draw a "faster, heavier and more painful response".

At the centre of Washington's confidence is Iran's oil trade -- and, significantly, China.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran has only about 30 million barrels of crude oil remaining that China has not already purchased. With US sanctions and a naval blockade restricting Tehran's ability to supply more oil, Bessent said that stock would "run out soon".

"The blockade is working like nothing we've ever seen," Bessent said in an interview with Fox News...