by Sharon Rondeau
(May 28, 2026) — Beginning at approximately 2:00 p.m. EDT. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will deliver a White House press briefing in light of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s maternity leave.
Bessent’s appearance follows those of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance since Leavitt’s absence began and is expected to address a reported tentative agreement between the United States and Iran to extend a tenuous ceasefire in effect since April 8 by 60 days.
Joint attacks against Iran by the U.S. and Israel were launched on February 28, with President Trump claiming Iran was dangerously close to using a nuclear weapon on the Jewish state, which Iran has declared is its sworn enemy.
As of 1:46 p.m. EDT, Trump had not yet commented on the new report claiming a ceasefire extension agreement has been reached in principle pending his approval of the terms.
On March 12, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, which controlled approximately 20% of the global oil supply. Prices of not only oil, but also common consumer staples rose as a result, though the price of oil fell below $90.00/barrel on Thursday morning.
Bessent has previously advocated for strict economic sanctions on the Iranian regime, whose theocratic leadership was eliminated by U.S. strikes on the first day of the conflict.
The sanctions, Bessent announced Thursday, will extend to hobbling Iran’s air traffic.
In recent days Trump has claimed peace talks with Iran are progressing despite the two countries exchanging hostilities during the same time frame and mutual accusations of ceasefire violations.