Trump Warns Iran Amid Sanctions and Oil Impact

Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, declaring that he has left instructions for the country to be 'obliterated' if it attempts to assassinate him, amid longstanding tensions between Washington and Tehran. Trump recently signed an executive order to reinstate strict economic sanctions on Iran, aiming to cut its oil exports and reduce its funding for groups like Hezbollah. This move has also influenced oil prices, as Trump's directive to increase pressure on Iran counteracted the negative impact of China's retaliatory tariffs on US energy. While Trump voiced reluctance in signing the memo, he emphasized the necessity of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iranian officials, however, have dismissed allegations of assassination plots against Trump as a ploy to complicate US-Iran relations further. Despite the aggressive stance, Trump expressed openness to negotiating with Iran, provided they do not pursue nuclear capabilities.