Reports: Trump Resumes 'Maximum Pressure' Against the Islamic Republic

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with Donald Trump's plans, that the new team of Mr. Trump will quickly act to reduce Iran's oil sales as a tool to weaken the Islamic Republic's support for its proxies in the Middle East and counter the regime's nuclear program. A former White House official told The Wall Street Journal that, in addition to the return of sanctions, we will witness diplomatic and financial actions to further isolate the Islamic Republic and exploit their current weaknesses. Brian Hook, who was responsible for Iran-related affairs at the U.S. State Department during Trump's first term and is now heading his transition team, previously stated that Trump has no interest in regime change in Iran and that the people of Iran will decide about Iran. This senior diplomat from the previous Trump administration said in an interview with CNN on November 8 that Mr. Trump had previously emphasized in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the need for diplomatic isolation and economic weakening of the Islamic Republic, which would eliminate the regime's ability to finance the Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and all its proxy groups in Iraq and Syria, which are factors of instability for Israel and America's partners in the Persian Gulf. Brian Hook is among the former U.S. officials who, according to U.S. intelligence and security agencies, are on the Islamic Republic's assassination list. According to some media speculations, he is the head of the transition team at the State Department of the new Donald Trump administration. "Using all available tools to enforce sanctions" Recently, a number of American lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties sent a letter to the U.S. State Department calling for the use of all available tools to enforce sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially regarding oil exports to China. This letter, initiated by Adam Schiff, a senior Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, refers to the Islamic Republic's history of malicious actions in the region and beyond, and then lists a range of sanctions including freezing the Islamic Republic's assets in the United States, banning U.S. trade with Iran, and prohibiting arms sales to this country. However, the signatories of the letter emphasized that without the full application and enforcement of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic, oil sales will remain their main source of income. Lawmakers state that U.S. law also allows for sanctions that target Iran's energy sector, including against foreign companies involved in the purchase, sale, or transportation of this country's oil. The Biden administration has also imposed a new set of sanctions against the Islamic Republic. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said on Thursday, September 13, to the Persian section of Voice of America that the Biden administration remains committed to the "strict" enforcement of the sanctions imposed against the Iranian government. Brian Hook: The Iranian government is the "main factor of instability" in the Middle East. Former U.S. Defense Secretary: It is time for the Biden administration to take better action than mere "defense" against the threats of the Islamic Republic. Senate session on "Islamic Republic's proxy networks"; emphasis on the necessity of "serious enforcement" of sanctions. Congratulations from Prince Reza Pahlavi to Trump: The people of Iran are your best peace partners.