Iran defies Trump's oil sanctions warning amid diplomatic push
Iran has dismissed the threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, who on Thursday threatened to impose secondary sanctions on anyone purchasing Iranian oil and petroleum products. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described these threats as breaching international law.
What is crucial to know?
- Iran dismisses Trump's threats: The Iranian Foreign Ministry criticised Donald Trump's warnings about sanctions on purchasing Iranian oil.
- Secondary sanctions: On Thursday, the U.S. President announced on the social media platform Truth Social that "all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must be stopped."
- Commitment to diplomacy: Iran underscores its dedication to diplomacy, highlighting three rounds of talks with the U.S. regarding its nuclear programme.
"In this regard, we strongly condemn the continuation of illegal sanctions and pressure on Iran's trade and economic partners," stated the Iranian Foreign Ministry, as quoted by the Iran International portal. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to diplomacy, noting three rounds of talks with the U.S. concerning Iran's nuclear programme.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added, "We have outlined our demands, including the removal of unjust sanctions. "
Trump threatens secondary sanctions
On Thursday, President Donald Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social that "all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must be immediately stopped!" He warned that anyone who buys "ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions (...) They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form."
In 2015, Iran and world powers reached a nuclear agreement to limit Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for partial sanctions relief. The deal included, among other things, restricting uranium enrichment to 3.67 per cent.
However, in 2018, during Trump's first presidency, the U.S. withdrew from the agreement, and Iran also diverged from its terms by enriching uranium beyond the agreed limit. The West accuses Tehran of secretly developing capabilities to produce nuclear weapons, which Iran refutes, insisting its atomic programme is purely civilian.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium, including material with 60 per cent purity, approaching levels capable of producing a nuclear weapon.
In February, Trump reinstated the "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, aiming to completely stop Iranian oil exports, with the intent of persuading Tehran to abandon nuclear weapons production.
