February 4, 2025 · presidential directive
Maximum-pressure policy renewed
A presidential memorandum directs renewed pressure over nuclear, missile, proxy and maritime threats; its export target is not an achieved result.
Before the action
The memorandum describes attacks on Americans, support for proxy forces, threats to U.S. naval and merchant vessels and Israel, and nuclear and missile capabilities. These are the administration’s stated reasons for action, rather than independently adjudicated findings within this record. I1
What the U.S. did
NSPM-2 directs renewed maximum pressure through economic and other policy measures, including efforts to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero. Its instructions identify protection of Americans, navigation, allied security and nonproliferation as connected U.S. objectives to pursue. I1
What the record establishes
The presidential directive establishes an adopted policy and assigned objectives. Treasury’s subsequent March 20 announcement documents sanctions against an Iranian oil purchasing and transportation network, providing a later example of policy implementation without establishing that all relevant revenue was stopped. I1I2
Costs, durability & open questions
A directive to eliminate oil exports is not evidence that exports reached zero. Sanctions designations likewise do not establish the amount of money actually blocked, the end of evasion, or a durable reduction in nuclear, missile or maritime threats. I1I2
Read the official evidence 2 sources
Presidential directive · Stated threats, maximum-pressure instructions and the objective of reducing Iranian oil exports to zero.
Executive sanctions announcement · Shandong Luqing refinery, approximately $500 million in attributed oil purchases and transportation designations.