Washington, DC: U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to all nations and entities continuing to buy oil or petrochemical products from Iran, stating they would face immediate secondary sanctions. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump emphasized that violators would be cut off from the American market entirely.
“They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form,” Trump declared, underscoring a renewed push to isolate Tehran economically.
The warning comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, particularly following the postponement of scheduled nuclear talks that were due to take place in Rome on Saturday. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that a new date would be determined based on Washington’s forthcoming stance.
Trump’s administration has ramped up enforcement of existing sanctions, targeting foreign entities involved in Iran’s oil trade. Recent actions included sanctions on a China-based crude oil storage terminal and a privately owned refiner accused of participating in unauthorized transactions involving Iranian oil and petrochemical products.
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The revived “maximum pressure” campaign, reinstated in February, aims to cripple Iran’s ability to fund its nuclear ambitions by driving its oil exports to zero. This strategy has once again placed emphasis on secondary sanctions — punitive measures designed to penalize third-party countries or entities that engage in trade with Iran.
Secondary sanctions are a powerful tool in Washington’s arsenal, especially given the U.S. economy’s global dominance. These sanctions threaten to bar foreign businesses from accessing U.S. financial and commercial systems if they continue to transact with Iran.
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Experts note that a truly effective enforcement would require Washington to target Chinese financial institutions that facilitate purchases of Iranian oil. China remains Iran’s largest crude oil customer and a key player in Tehran’s ability to circumvent sanctions.
While the U.S. pursues tighter restrictions, diplomatic uncertainty lingers. The indefinite delay of nuclear discussions has added another layer of unpredictability to already strained relations, making future cooperation harder to forecast.
