The White House last week ordered a freeze on new sanctions activity toward Iran, stalling what was once President Trump’s flagship maximum pressure campaign, The Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the Journal, the directive was issued by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and relayed to top officials at the National Security Council and Treasury Department. It was later shared with the State Department and Middle East-focused personnel across the administration.
Iran sanctions now overlap with broader US foreign policy—particularly trade with China, where more than 90% of Iran’s oil exports are headed, the report said.
