WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to reimpose the "maximum pressure" policy on Iran, aiming to curb its oil exports and restrict its influence in the Middle East.

"It’s very tough on Iran," Trump told reporters at the White House.

He said he is "torn" on signing the order but added, "Hopefully we are not going to have to use it very much."

The order directs the Treasury Department to impose "maximum economic pressure" on Iran through sanctions designed to cripple the country’s oil exports.

The signing comes shortly before he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"So I'm signing this, and I'm unhappy to do it, but I really have not so much choice, because we have to be strong and firm, and I hope that it's not going to have to be used in any great measure at all. It'd be great if we could have a Middle East and maybe a world at total peace," said Trump.

In his remarks, he reiterated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

​​​''Total obliteration' 

When asked what would happen if Iran tried to kill him, Trump said: "It would be called total obliteration".

"That would be a terrible thing for them to do, not because of me. If they did that, they would be obliterated. At a beginning, I've left instructions. If they do it, they get obliterated. There won't be anything left," said the US president.

Official form Trump's first term believe that the policy succeeded in "reducing funds available to Tehran’s security services."

Trump is also known for his hostile stance toward Iran, especially after his administration unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

The assassination of Iran’s top military commander General Qasim Soleimani in January 2020 brought the two countries to the brink of direct military confrontation.