Iranian Leadership Tones Down Nuclear Rhetoric after Trump’s ‘Maximum Pressure’

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Iran

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Tuesday, stating that the country would face “obliteration” if it were responsible for his assassination. Trump’s decision to reinstate his maximum pressure campaign against Iran has significantly shifted U.S. policy, marking a decisive departure from the more conciliatory approach of the previous Biden administration. Experts in Middle Eastern affairs suggest this move has “unsettled” Tehran’s leadership.

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Trump made it clear that any attempt by Iran to target him would result in severe consequences. As a result of his warning, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying that ensuring Iran does not develop nuclear weapons is “achievable and not a difficult matter.” However, Araghchi also criticized the U.S. strategy, stating that “maximum pressure is a failed experiment,” while avoiding direct commentary on new sanctions aimed at restricting Iran’s oil exports and support for militant groups.

Yossi Mansharof, an analyst at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy in Israel, pointed out that despite existing oil sanctions, Iran’s revenue surged under Biden’s presidency, reaching $144 billion in the first three years—$100 billion more than what was earned in the final two years of Trump’s term. Mansharof noted that while the Biden administration formally tightened sanctions, enforcement was lacking, allowing Iran to continue benefiting from oil sales and propping up its economy.

Fox News Digital also reported how Biden’s decision to extend sanctions waivers, which enabled Iran to receive multiple payments totaling $10 billion.

Mansharof welcomed Trump’s renewed economic pressure on Tehran but cautioned that given Iran’s advancements in nuclear weapon development, sanctions alone may not be enough. He emphasized the need for military pressure to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its destabilizing activities in the region.

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Both Republican and Democratic administrations have consistently designated Iran as the leading state sponsor of terrorism. The National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM), signed by Trump on Tuesday, aims to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon and counter its influence abroad. Tehran remains a major financial supporter of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah.

Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, remarked that Trump’s renewed sanctions strategy stands in sharp contrast to Biden’s defensive approach. He argued that Trump’s initial sanctions, along with the withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, had left Iran’s economy in ruins. Trump’s renewed economic warfare against the regime, Diker said, reinforces his commitment to maintaining U.S. power in the Middle East while avoiding direct military conflict.

The JCPOA, established during the Obama administration, was designed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for economic relief. However, Trump withdrew from the deal, calling it “the worst deal in history” and arguing that it failed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while enabling the country to fund terrorist activities worldwide.

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