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By Strangling Exports and Diplomatic Isolation.. Trump May Retaliate Against Iran's Assassination Attempts
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Statements by former Trump administration officials reflect a hardline vision toward Iran aimed at diplomatically isolating and economically weakening it
Attention turns to a potential escalation in U.S. policy toward Iran, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to resume "maximum sanctions" policy upon taking office next January, especially after accusations of Tehran's involvement in a plot to assassinate him.
Mick Mulroy, former Pentagon Middle East affairs official, cited in Wall Street Journal statements the personal nature of responses to assassination attempts, expecting a hardline approach from Trump toward the Iranians.
Sources close to Trump's advisers highlighted the new team's determination to move quickly to restrict Iranian oil sales, targeting foreign ports and intermediaries dealing with Tehran.
Former U.S. energy official Robert McNally predicted imposing bans on Chinese ports receiving Iranian oil, and possibly punishing Iraqi officials supporting pro-Iran militias, estimating Chinese purchases would decrease by at least 500,000 barrels daily.
A former White House official stated his expectation of escalating sanctions, pointing to Iran's current weak position and considering it an opportune time for pressure.
Brian Hook, former U.S. Special Representative for Iran, told CNN two days ago about Trump's commitment to "diplomatically isolate Tehran and weaken it economically so it cannot finance all the violence" linked to Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and other regional proxies.
Notably, Trump had withdrawn from the nuclear deal in 2018 and imposed a comprehensive ban on Iranian oil exports in 2019, causing shipments to decline to 250,000 barrels daily in early 2020, before recovering to reach their highest levels in six years during September 2024.
Levant-Agencies
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