President Trump of the United States and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel during a meeting in 2025 [AP Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to maximize economic pressure on Iran during a recent White House meeting, U.S. online media Axios reported on the 14th (local time).

In particular, the two leaders are said to have focused on blocking oil exports to China, Iran's largest source of funding.

According to Axios, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu met privately at the White House on the 11th and agreed on sanctions against Iran.

Both sides decided to focus on Iran's oil exports, the lifeline of its economy, particularly sales to China, which account for more than 80% of its total exports. The calculation is that if China reduces its purchase of Iranian crude oil, the economic damage to Iran will be maximized, allowing for concessions at the nuclear negotiation table.

A senior U.S. official stated, "We have agreed to exert maximum pressure, with all our might, targeting Iran's oil sales to China and other areas."

To this end, President Trump is expected to actively utilize the executive order he signed on the 6th. This executive order grants the President the authority to impose tariffs of up to 25% on third countries that do business with Iran.

However, concerns are also raised that imposing tariffs on China could become a new detonator in U.S.-China relations. The United States is currently paying attention to managing its relationship with China, considering the maintenance of the rare earth magnet supply chain and the U.S.-China summit scheduled for April in Beijing.

Axios reported that although President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed on the ultimate goal of "not tolerating a nuclear-armed Iran," they revealed subtle differences in their approaches to achieving it.

Prime Minister Netanyahu maintained a hardline stance, telling President Trump, "It is impossible to reach a good agreement with Iran. Even if an agreement is reached, Iran will not abide by it."

Conversely, President Trump kept the possibility of negotiations open. It is understood that President Trump told Prime Minister Netanyahu, "Let's see if it's possible. Let's give it a try."

Economic pressure on Iran is a measure being pursued in parallel with nuclear negotiations. The U.S. government is also continuing to strengthen its military presence in the Middle East in preparation for the failure of diplomacy.

According to Axios, Steve Witkoff, the White House Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs, and Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, also acknowledged that "historically, good agreements with Iran are difficult or impossible," but noted that Iran is currently showing gestures toward dialogue.

Their stance is to continue negotiations while maintaining a firm approach, and to leave the final decision to President Trump if a satisfactory agreement is reached.

The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold their second round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 17th.

The U.S. delegation, including Witkoff and Kushner, delivered messages to the Iranian side during the first nuclear negotiations held in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on the 6th, and expects Iran's official response at the Geneva meeting.

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