Trump’s Memorandum Restores Maximum Pressure Blocking Iran’s Nuclear Program

Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

President Trump at work in the White House.

President Donald J. Trump is promoting new “tough” measures aimed at deterring Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while expressing hope that they won’t need to be used.  On Tuesday, Trump signed a presidential memorandum authorizing stricter actions against Iran and warned of “total obliteration” if Tehran attempts to harm him personally.

“They can’t have a nuclear weapon, we’d be very tough if they insist on doing that,” Trump said.

During the Oval Office signing ceremony, Trump aide Will Scharf said the memorandum was designed to exert “maximum pressure” on Iran, mirroring policies from Trump’s first administration.

Here’s the full declaration (President Donald J. Trump Restores Maximum Pressure on Iran):

RESTORING MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON IRAN

Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) restoring maximum pressure on the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, denying Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon, and countering Iran’s malign influence abroad.

The NSPM establishes that:

• Iran should be denied a nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic missiles;
• Iran’s terrorist network should be neutralized; and
• Iran’s aggressive development of missiles, as well as other asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities, should be countered.

The NSPM directs the Secretary of the Treasury to impose maximum economic pressure on the Government of Iran, including by sanctioning or imposing enforcement mechanisms on those acting in violation of existing sanctions.

The Treasury Secretary will also issue guidance for all relevant business sectors – including shipping, insurance, and port operators – about the risks to any person that knowingly violates U.S. sanctions with respect to Iran or an Iranian terror proxy.

The Secretary of State will also modify or rescind existing sanctions waivers and cooperate with the Secretary of Treasury to implement a campaign aimed at driving Iran’s oil exports to zero.

The United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations will work with key allies to complete the snapback of international sanctions and restrictions on Iran.

PROTECTING THE HOMELAND FROM IRAN

The previous Administration’s tolerance of Iran’s threats to American citizens and companies ends now.

The Attorney General will pursue all available legal steps to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute financial and logistical networks, operatives, or front groups inside the United States that are sponsored by Iran or an Iranian terror proxy.

The Attorney General will prosecute leaders and members of Iranian-funded terrorist groups that have captured, harmed, or killed American citizens and seek their arrest and extradition to the United States.

TAKING IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM OFF THE TABLE

President Trump will not tolerate Iran possessing a nuclear weapons capability, nor will he stand for their sustained sponsorship of terrorism, especially against U.S. interests.

In 2020, President Trump declared that “as long as [he is] President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.”

Today’s NSPM fulfills the President’s 2020 vow to contend with Iran’s pernicious influence across the globe:

“For far too long — all the way back to 1979, to be exact — nations have tolerated Iran’s destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond.  Those days are over.  Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism, and their pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world.  We will never let that happen.”