The Trump administration ended a waiver that allowed the Iraqi government to buy  in a renewed effort to choke off Iran's profits.

National security advisor Mike Waltz told Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani that the end of the waiver was consistent with President Donald Trump’s "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran as the administration goes all-in on trying to prevent the regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

> "Waltz welcomed the Iraqi Prime Minister’s efforts to achieve energy independence for Iraq, and encouraged the Iraqi government to welcome more western and U.S. energy companies into Iraq’s oil and gas sectors."

Waltz also urged the Iraqi government to resolve its dispute with the Kurdistan Regional Government, where Iraq has been choking off the flow of oil from the Kurdistan region in Iraq to Turkey for years, allowing the region’s continued dependence on Iranian oil.

It is part of a global push to boost oil supply and keep prices in check, in an effort that would starve Iran and Russia of fuel profits.



Iran can already enrich uranium to a near-weapons-grade 60%.

(Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP, File)

"There are two ways Iran can be handled - militarily, or you make a deal. I would prefer to make a deal, because I am not looking to hurt Iran."



National security advisor Michael Waltz informed the Iraqi prime minister of the end of the sanctions waiver over the weekend.

According to nuclear experts, Iran is already enriching uranium to 60%, putting it mere days or weeks away from 90% weapons-grade supply.

On Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not negotiate with "bullying countries."

Iran currently exports an average of 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, but under Trump's Feb. 6 executive order, the secretaries of State and Treasury are to work to "implement a campaign aimed at driving Iran’s oil exports to zero."

The U.S. is also working to end a sanctions waiver for the , where India has poured in $370 million to build a trading gateway to the Middle East.

Next, the U.S. could set its sights on China, which buys up 90% of Iran's oil outflow.



Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, swatted away the Trump administration's efforts to lure them to the negotiating table.

(Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
```