U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said tougher sanctions will be imposed against Iran if Tehran fails to reach an agreement on its nuclear program.

“I certainly expect very tough sanctions against Iran and hopefully, they will force it to abandon its nuclear program,” Wright told CNBC.

Wright will begin a two-week tour of three Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabi, on Wednesday, his first visit as a U.S. official to the de facto leader of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Wright also defended Trump's executive order, expected later on Tuesday, to boost the coal industry as essential for artificial intelligence data centers as well as steel production and other industrial activities.

He said he doesn't think European countries will want to reimport energy from Russia once the war in Ukraine is over.

“When I talk to European leaders, they all share the same thing - regret for betting their energy future on Russia,” Wright added.