Trump, Netanyahu Vow ‘Full Force’ Move Against Iran Over China Oil Trade — Big Pressure Plan Revealed

Increasing pressure on Iran to scale back exports to China could shift Tehran’s stance and push it to offer more concessions on its nuclear programme.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to ramp up economic pressure on Iran, according to a new report.

The two leaders discussed the issue during a White House meeting on Wednesday, where the focus was largely on forcing Iran to reduce its oil exports to China, Axios reported, citing two US officials familiar with the talks.

“We agreed that we will go full force with maximum pressure against Iran, for example, regarding Iranian oil sales to China,” one of the officials told the media outlet.

Why the US and Israel Are Targeting Iran’s Oil Sales to China

China buys more than 80% of Iran’s seaborne oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. With US sanctions in place to block funding for Tehran’s nuclear programme, Iran has very limited buyers for its oil.

Figures show China imported an average of 1.38 million barrels of Iranian oil per day last year. That made up around 13.4% of the 10.27 million barrels per day of crude oil China brought in by sea.

Beijing has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions and says its trade with Iran is legal. However, traders often label oil shipped from Iran to China as coming from other countries, including Malaysia — a major transshipment hub — and Indonesia, Reuters reported. Official Chinese customs data has not recorded any Iranian oil imports since July 2022.

Washington believes tightening the screws on Iran’s oil exports to China could change Tehran’s calculations and push it to make more compromises on its nuclear ambitions.

US officials told Axios that this renewed “maximum pressure” campaign would run alongside nuclear negotiations with Iran. At the same time, the US is continuing its military build-up in the Middle East in case diplomacy fails.

An executive order signed by Trump 10 days ago gives Washington more power to act economically against Iran. Under the order, the US secretary of state and secretary of commerce can recommend tariffs of up to 25% on any country that continues to trade with Iran.

Tensions Rise as Fresh Iran-US Talks Loom

Iran and the US are expected to hold a second round of discussions next week on Tehran’s nuclear programme, Switzerland’s foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday. After the first round of talks, Trump warned that if Iran failed to reach a deal with his administration, the consequences would be “very traumatic.”

Trump has repeatedly said he is prepared to use military force if needed to ensure Iran accepts limits on its nuclear activities. Iran, in turn, has warned it would retaliate if attacked. The US president has also criticised Iran over its violent crackdown on recent nationwide protests.

On Friday, Trump announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, would move from the Caribbean to the Middle East. The vessel will join other American military assets already stationed in the region. Trump also remarked that a leadership change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen.”

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. However, officials there have increasingly hinted that the country could move closer to developing a nuclear weapon. Before the June war, Iran had enriched uranium to 60% purity — just a short technical step away from weapons-grade level.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the country is “ready for any kind of verification.” Still, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has for months been unable to inspect and verify Iran’s nuclear stockpile.

With diplomacy on one side and military muscle on the other, the coming weeks could prove crucial in shaping the future of US-Iran relations.

With inputs from agencies and Ai