U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe both expressed their commitment to eliminating all oil exports from Iran, a top U.S. diplomat official says.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty on April 27 told reporters in a call that Trump and Abe also discussed a "desire to see Iran change its path and seek a more peaceful course forward."

The two leaders met at the White House on April 26.

Washington has been stepping up the pressure politically and financially on Tehran since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, saying Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons and is supporting extremist violence in the region. Tehran has denied the charges.

Trump has demanded nations stop purchasing Iranian oil by May 1 as he attempts to bring Tehran’s crude exports down to zero, further hitting the country’s economy and currency.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has threatened to disrupt oil shipments from Gulf countries if Washington tries to block
Tehran's oil exports.

Ambassador Hagerty also said Trump is planning to attend the Group of 20 summit in June, scheduled for the Japanese city of Osaka.

Based on reporting by Reuters and The Washington Examiner