Former President Trump's transition team is preparing to reinstate a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, according to new reports from the Financial Times. The strategy aims to severely restrict Iran's access to international funds and impose wide-ranging sanctions immediately upon taking office.
The transition team is actively drafting executive orders targeting Iran's oil and gas sectors, with plans for immediate implementation after inauguration. Sources familiar with the planning say the ultimate goal is to push Iran toward potential bankruptcy through comprehensive economic isolation.
This would mark a dramatic shift from current policy. Iranian oil exports have tripled in the past four years, reaching more than 1.5 million barrels per day in 2024, up from 400,000 in 2020. China remains the primary buyer of Iranian oil exports.
Trump previously implemented a "maximum pressure" campaign during his first term after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal. While those sanctions remained officially in place during the Biden administration, enforcement reportedly became less stringent, allowing Iran's oil revenues to recover significantly.
During recent campaign appearances, Trump has emphasized the need for a new agreement with Iran: "We must reach a deal, because the consequences are impossible. We must reach an agreement."
The proposed measures would represent one of the most aggressive economic pressure campaigns against Iran since the original sanctions regime, with particular focus on crippling oil revenue streams that have recently recovered. The plan includes blocking access to Iranian regime assets held overseas and implementing new restrictions on international financial transactions.
Financial analysts suggest this renewed pressure campaign could have significant implications for global oil markets and international trade relationships, particularly with China, which has become Iran's primary economic partner during the current sanctions period.
