US President Donald Trump on 4 February signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum executive order restoring “maximum pressure” on Iran, with the stated aim of driving “Iran’s export of oil to zero, including exports of Iranian crude to the People’s Republic of China.” The memorandum came right before a White House visit by Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu, and declared that “Iran bears responsibility for the horrific Hamas massacres committed on 7 October 2023,” while also linking Tehran to the continued obstruction of Red Sea shipping by Yemen’s Houthis and criticizing its ballistic missile attacks on Israel last year.
The order instructs the Treasury Department to impose “appropriate enforcement remedies” on existing sanctions, including a “review for modification or rescission [of] any general license” that provides “Iran or any of its terror proxies any degree of economic or financial relief.” (CONTINUED - 1159 WORDS)
