Trump restores 'maximum pressure' campaign, says he is willing to talk to Iranian president

U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to reinstate the "maximum pressure" policy on Iran, a move that is part of a series of directives he signed before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Trump administration hopes to force Iran to make concessions on the nuclear issue by increasing economic pressure.

Trump will instruct the Treasury Secretary to intensify sanctions and enforcement against Iranian oil sales, with the goal of reducing Iran's oil exports to zero. He admitted to feeling "ambivalent" when signing the measures against Iran and expressed hope that these measures would not be necessary, indicating a willingness to reach an agreement with Iran. Trump emphasized that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances, but he is willing to engage in dialogue with the Iranian side.

At the same time, Trump also stated that if Iran attempts to assassinate him, the United States will "destroy" Iran. Previously, Middle East Eye reported that the Trump administration would prioritize the enforcement of sanctions against Iran, including secondary sanctions on major Iranian oil buyers such as China. The Trump administration's tough stance undoubtedly increases the complexity of the situation in the Middle East.

Trump also stated that the United States "has the right" to prevent Iran from selling oil to other countries. Data shows that Iranian oil exports reached a five-year high in 2024. Trump and his allies accuse the Biden administration of failing to effectively enforce sanctions while attempting to renegotiate a return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, from which Trump unilaterally withdrew. Iran, on the other hand, has established a "ghost fleet" of tankers to help circumvent sanctions. If Trump imposes secondary sanctions on China, it could exacerbate tensions.

Trump's tough measures against Iran are seen as a victory for Netanyahu. Netanyahu's visit to the White House is his first trip abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him on suspicion of war crimes. Several European countries have stated that they would arrest Netanyahu if he entered their territory. The United States is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court. Several other executive orders signed by Trump appear to be timed to coincide with Netanyahu's visit. These include withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and extending the suspension of funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa).

According to a document obtained by Politico, the White House stated: "The UN Human Rights Council has shown a persistent bias against Israel, with an unfair and disproportionate focus on Israel in the Council's proceedings." The document also noted that when Trump first withdrew in 2018, the UN Human Rights Council "passed more resolutions condemning Israel than condemning Syria, Iran, and North Korea combined." These measures are somewhat symbolic, as Trump had already withdrawn from the UN Human Rights Council during his first term, a decision that former President Joe Biden reversed upon taking office. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has already suspended funding to UNRWA.

The United States withdrew its support for UNRWA after Israel claimed in 2024 that its employees were involved in the October 7 attacks. UNRWA launched an investigation and fired nine employees who were allegedly "possibly involved in the attacks." UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization in the Gaza Strip, with approximately 13,000 staff and over 300 facilities. Israel has criticized UNRWA for decades. UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma said the agency operates in an "exceptionally difficult environment" and is the target of "an intense disinformation campaign."

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been reassessing all U.S. foreign aid, including aid to staunch allies. Trump is also reforming the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), appointing Secretary of State Marco Rubio in charge and freezing almost all funding. These moves indicate that the Trump administration is re-examining its foreign policy and could have a significant impact on the global aid landscape.