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U.S. President Donald Trump plans to revive his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to reduce its oil exports to zero.
An American official disclosed this to Reuters.
According to the agency, during his election campaign, Trump claimed that former U.S. President Joe Biden’s policy, which did not strictly enforce sanctions on oil exports, weakened Washington and emboldened Tehran. This, he argued, allowed Iran to sell oil, accumulate cash, and expand its nuclear ambitions and influence through armed militias.
The official noted that Trump will sign a presidential memorandum instructing the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to apply “maximum economic pressure” on Iran, including sanctions and enforcement mechanisms targeting those who violate existing sanctions.
As part of these efforts, the Trump administration will launch a campaign “aimed at reducing Iran’s oil exports to zero,” the official added.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew in 2018, Iran had limited its nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.
Trump later reimposed U.S. sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to resume previously banned nuclear activities and reigniting fears in the U.S., Europe, and Israel that Iran may be pursuing the development of a nuclear bomb.
In December 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s team was considering airstrikes on Iran to halt its nuclear program.
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