Trump, Netanyahu agreed to go “full force” on Iran economically: Axios
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- Coordinated Economic Warfare: Trump and Netanyahu agreed to escalate "maximum pressure" by specifically targeting the 80% of Iranian oil exports going to China, according to Axios.
- While both leaders agree Iran must never achieve nuclear capability, they differ on the path forward; Netanyahu views a viable deal as "impossible," whereas Trump is pursuing one final round of "sober and realistic" talks in Geneva before pivoting toward potential military action.
US President Donald Trump and ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to intensify economic pressure on Iran by cracking down on its oil sales to China, which account for more than 80% of Tehran's exports, as part of a "maximum pressure" campaign to force concessions on its nuclear program.
The two leaders met at the White House on Wednesday, where they aligned on a dual-track approach: aggressive sanctions alongside ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, while preparing for possible military action if diplomacy fails, according to Axios.
A US official briefed on the discussions said, "We agreed that we will go full force with maximum pressure against Iran, for example, regarding Iranian oil sales to China."
Trump signed an executive order 10 days ago authorizing tariffs of up to 25% on any country doing business with Iran, a tool that could directly target Beijing and complicate US-China relations ahead of a planned April summit.Netanyahu and Trump agreed that Iran must be left without nuclear weapons capability.
But they diverged on tactics: Netanyahu argued it is "impossible" to strike a viable deal with Tehran, which he said would never honor one, while Trump expressed cautious optimism, telling advisers, "We'll see if it's possible. Let's give it a shot."
Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are set to hold a second round of talks with Iranian officials in Geneva on Tuesday.
The US side is "sober and realistic," according to another official cited by Axiosl: "The ball is in their court. If it is not a real deal, we will not take it."
A third US official was more blunt, telling Axios there is "zero chance" of a mutually acceptable agreement.
The push comes amid reports of a US proposal—denied by American officials—for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment for three to five years and ship out 450 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.
An Iranian journalist claimed Tehran rejected the idea.
