Trump Confirms Maximum Economic Pressure On Iran, Calls China's Tariff Retaliation 'Fine'

President Donald Trump signed Tuesday a directive restoring his "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign on Iran and doubled down on his trade stance with China, dismissing Beijing's retaliatory tariffs as "fine."

Speaking at the Oval Office, Trump signed a memorandum aimed at ramping up economic and political pressure on Iran by reviving sanctions that were previously imposed during his first term.

Trump Signs ‘Very Tough' Iran Sanctions Order

Framing the policy as a direct response to Tehran's nuclear ambitions and support for militant groups, Trump said the directive would have prevented the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and said Iran is now "too close" to developing nuclear weapons.

The sanctions are designed to curb Iran's nuclear program and limit its influence across the region.

Trump left the door open for diplomacy. "We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran and everybody can live together," he said. "Maybe that's possible, maybe it's not."

When asked about Iran's nuclear program, Trump insisted that preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon remains his top priority.

"With me, it's very simple. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," he said. "We don't want to be tough on Iran. We don't want to be tough on anybody. But they just can't have a nuclear weapon."

He also addressed concerns that Iran and its allied militias could target him or his former officials in retaliation for the U.S. killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020. "If they did that, they would be obliterated," Trump said. "That would be the end."

Trump said he’s left clear instructions for how the U.S. should respond to any such attack. "I've left instructions. If they do it, they get obliterated. There won't be anything left," he said.

Trump Doubles Down On China

Despite the escalating trade tensions, Trump brushed off concerns about China's response.

"That's fine," he said. "We're going to do very well against China and against everybody else."

Beijing responded to Trump's latest 10% tariff on Chinese imports with its own countermeasures, imposing new tariffs of 10%-15% on select U.S. goods, including coal, liquefied natural gas, crude oil, agricultural machinery and vehicles.

“They’ve taken advantage of the Biden administration like I’ve never seen. The deficit with China is about a trillion dollars, they’re using our money to build their military,” Trump stated.

When asked whether he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping or planned to negotiate a resolution, Trump was noncommittal.

"We'll speak to him at the appropriate time," he said. "I'm in no rush."

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