Trump imposes sanctions on Iranian oil purchasers, escalating tensions

Former President Donald Trump has called for an immediate halt to all purchases of Iranian oil and petrochemical products, warning that any country or individual engaging in such transactions will face sweeping secondary U.S. sanctions and be barred from doing business with the United States. The announcement, seen as primarily targeting China—by far Iran’s largest oil customer—comes amid ongoing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and follows the postponement of scheduled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. Trump’s hardline stance is part of his broader 'maximum pressure' campaign, aiming to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero and cut off revenue sources allegedly used to fund militant groups and destabilizing activities in the Middle East. The U.S. State and Treasury Departments have imposed new sanctions on entities trading Iranian oil and petrochemicals, and Trump’s threat has triggered a notable rise in global oil prices. Iranian officials condemned the new sanctions as hostile and unlawful, warning of consequences, while the U.S. insists that further negotiations with Tehran are anticipated. The escalation risks further straining U.S.-China relations, already tense due to trade disputes and existing tariffs.