The American news website Axios has revealed that former United States President Donald Trump agreed with Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting at the White House last Wednesday to move forcefully forward with maximum pressure on Iran by reducing its oil exports to China.
According to the report, which cited US officials, the two sides discussed intensifying economic pressure as a means of weakening Tehran’s position.
US officials told the website that increased economic pressure on Iran could push it towards greater concessions regarding its nuclear programme. They added that this approach would proceed in parallel with negotiations with Tehran and continued military reinforcement in the Middle East, in preparation for potential strikes should the diplomatic track fail.
The report stated that Trump and Netanyahu agreed on the ultimate objective, which is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. However, they differed on the method of achieving that goal.
US officials indicated that Netanyahu told Trump that reaching a good deal was impossible, and that even if an agreement were signed, Iran would not adhere to it.
In contrast, Trump informed Netanyahu that he believed there was an opportunity to reach an agreement with Iran, stating, “We will see if that is possible. Let us try.”
A US official told Axios that in recent days Trump asked his advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about the prospects of reaching an agreement with Iran.
The official added that Witkoff and Kushner told the former US president that securing a strong agreement with Tehran would be difficult, if not impossible, given the historical context. However, they also said that the Iranians were, thus far, “saying all the right things”.
The official continued that Kushner and Witkoff assured Trump they would continue negotiations while maintaining a firm position. If the Iranians agreed to what they considered a satisfactory deal, it would be presented to him for a decision on whether to proceed.
China is considered the largest importer of Iranian oil, particularly as it does not recognise US sanctions. The two countries have established a trade system that relies largely on the Chinese yuan and a network of intermediaries to avoid transactions in US dollars and exposure to American enforcement mechanisms.
Arrangements are underway to hold direct talks between the United States and Iran in the Swiss city of Geneva next Tuesday, mediated by Oman, to discuss the nuclear file and de escalation efforts.
On 6 February, Oman hosted indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran. At that time, Trump announced that new negotiations would be held “early” the following week, without specifying an exact date.
The United States and its ally Israel accuse Iran of seeking to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains that its programme is designed for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation.
