On the surface, the Trump administration is united behind a tough Iran policy. The Treasury Department continues to issue sanctions on Iranian individuals and subsidiaries to drain Tehran’s finances — the latest batch being a March 22 designation of 14 Iranians and 17 entities for involvement with the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research. State Department officials are repeating ad nauseam that Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism with hegemonic ambitions to dominate the region. President Trump, with national security adviser John Bolton chirping in his ear, remains as committed to a policy of maximum pressure as when he first hit the trail as a presidential candidate.

But there is a looming battle playing out behind closed doors between those in the State and Treasury Departments who want a more cautious approach to sanctions enforcement and those in the White House and Congress who are chomping at the bit to cut off Iranian oil exports completely. According to Bloomberg News, Bolton has been lobbying for the elimination of the sanctions waivers issued last November, which allow eight countries to continue importing Iranian oil on a temporary basis. Worried about oil prices spiking, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Iran sanctions czar Brian Hook, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin aren’t so sure taking every last drop of Iranian oil off the market is a great idea. Who wins the interagency fight will determine how Iran responds.