Bloomberg: Trump's Team Reaches Consensus on Iran, Ongoing Review on Russia

Bloomberg reported, citing its sources, that Donald Trump's team, the elected President of the United States, is drafting a comprehensive sanctions strategy related to Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. Bloomberg noted the role of these three countries in the oil market, stating on Thursday, January 17, that Trump's team has reached a consensus on returning to a maximum pressure policy against Iran. Donald Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA during his first term and adopted a maximum pressure policy to compel Iran to halt its nuclear and missile programs as well as regional actions. According to Bloomberg, Trump's advisors are designing a broad sanctions strategy that may begin in February, just weeks after he enters the White House, targeting Iranian oil. The previous administration's stringent sanctions significantly reduced Iran's oil exports, but these exports have increased since Joe Biden, the current President of the United States, took office. Recently, media reports indicated that a plan for the first 100 days of Donald Trump's administration has been proposed, aimed at pressuring the Islamic Republic of Iran. Fox News reported on January 14 that it had seen a plan presented by the 'United Against a Nuclear Iran' organization to Trump's team, titled '100-Day Plan,' which offers a comprehensive roadmap to limit the Islamic Republic of Iran through diplomatic, intelligence, military, and economic measures. This plan advises Trump to first warn Tehran in a speech that military options to eliminate Iran's nuclear program are on the table. The strategy calls for the U.S. government to act against Iran's significant assets, similar to Israel, without triggering a widespread war in the region if Iran does not comply. Bloomberg also reported that there are two perspectives within Trump's team regarding ending the war in Ukraine, with the final decision resting with him. One perspective includes a series of goodwill measures benefiting the Russian oil industry to help facilitate a peace agreement. The second option involves imposing more sanctions and increasing pressure. The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russian oil last week, which Bloomberg described as the toughest Western sanctions against Moscow to date. The final approach that Donald Trump chooses will significantly impact the global oil market. In recent days, following the announcement of heavy sanctions by the Biden administration, oil prices have risen, with Brent crude increasing by nearly five dollars per barrel. One of Trump's senior advisors recently predicted that the elected President of the United States would have a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days or weeks. Mike Waltz, a Republican member of the House of Representatives and Trump's choice for National Security Advisor, stated in an interview with ABC News on January 14 that expecting Russia to withdraw from all occupied areas of Ukraine is unrealistic. He added, 'The Russia-Ukraine war has become a war of attrition similar to World War I, resulting in the destruction of lives and resources, and it may lead to World War III.' He, being a very loyal politician to the elected President of the United States and having served as a colonel in the National Guard, stated that everyone knows this war must be resolved diplomatically.