President Donald Trump has signed a directive that aims to increase economic pressure on Iran, fulfilling promises to reverse what he considers a loose sanction application regime under his predecessor at the White House.
The directive will ask the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to use sanctions and a more rigorous application of existing measures to increase pressure on Tehran. Together, Trump’s actions revive a stiff stance against Iran he adopted in his first term, when he withdrew the US from an agreement that imposed limits to the country’s nuclear program and sought to economically isolate Tehran.
Trump announced the new actions on Tuesday at the Oval Hall, presenting them as hard against Tehran and expressing hope that the US do not need to resort to all available measures.
“Hopefully, we won’t have to use them much,” Trump said, adding that he would seek to “negotiate an agreement with Iran.”
“Perhaps this is possible. It may not be possible, ”he added.
The White House is seeking to cut Iran’s oil exports, although it is not clear how exactly the US intends to achieve this goal or if this is possible. The action also reaffirms management plans to block any path Tehran may have to get nuclear weapons.
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Trump said the US has the right to block Iran’s oil and warned that Tehran is approaching the development of his own nuclear weapons capabilities.
Trump criticized former President Joe Biden, claiming that Iran challenged sanctions during their term, allowing oil exports to return to almost full capacity. Over the past four years, the evasion of sanctions and the most relaxed application of US laws have allowed the Middle East nation to increase their oil exports by about 1 million barrels a day, with most supply going to China , according to Bloomberg oil tracking data and estimates of commercial and government organizations.
Cutting Iran’s oil revenue would further impair the finances of a country that already faces difficulties. The country is dealing with energy shortages due to lack of investments, a falling currency and difficulty industries – problems that threaten to get worse if oil revenue is reduced.
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During his own presidency, Biden intensified sanctions on Tehran due to his support for proxy groups in the Middle East, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and his calls with Russia. Biden also expanded US sanctions on Iran’s oil and gas sectors after an attack with Israel ballistic missiles.
Trump, after being reelected in 2024, said he was open to negotiating with Iran as long as the country does not seek nuclear weapons. “We are not seeking to cause damage to Iran,” Trump said, while warning that “they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist, prioritized the reduction of sanctions and a rapprochement while seeking to stabilize the country’s economy.
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Trump also signed actions that remove the US from refugee initiatives and human rights administered by the United Nations, as well as starting a broader review of the funding of the international organization, as well as its scientific, educational and cultural branch.
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