Trump threatens sanctions against buyers of Iranian oil after US-Iran
nuclear talks are postponed
[May 02, 2025]
By JON GAMBRELL
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday
threatened sanctions on anyone who buys Iranian oil, a warning that came
after planned talks over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program were
postponed.
Trump wrote on social media, “All purchases of Iranian Oil, or
Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW!” He said any country or person
who buys those products from Iran will not be able to do business with
the United States “in any way, shape, or form.”
It was unclear how Trump would implement such a ban as he threatened to
levy secondary sanctions on nations that import Iranian oil. But his
statement risked further escalating tensions with China — Iran’s leading
customer — at a time when the relationship is severely strained over the
U.S. president’s tariffs.
Based on tanker tracking data, the U.S. Energy Information
Administration concluded in a report published last October that “China
took nearly 90% of Iran’s crude oil and condensate exports in 2023.”
Trump has separately placed 145% tariffs on China as a way to raise
federal revenues and rebalance global trade.
Trump's social media threat came after Oman announced planned nuclear
negotiations for this coming weekend had been postponed. Omani Foreign
Minister Badr al-Busaidi made the announcement in a post on the social
platform X.
“For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting
provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd,” he wrote. “New dates will
be announced when mutually agreed.”
Al-Busaidi, who has mediated the talks through three rounds so far, did
not elaborate.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also blamed “logistical and
technical reasons” for the postponement.
“On Iran’s part, there is no change in our determination to secure a
negotiated solution,” he wrote on X. “We are more determined than ever
to achieve a just and balanced deal: guaranteeing an end to sanctions,
and creating confidence that Iran’s nuclear program will forever remain
peaceful while ensuring that Iranian rights are fully respected.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, newly tapped to take over the
duties of national security adviser in addition to his current role as
America's top diplomat, reiterated that if Iran wants nuclear power
plants, it can import enriched uranium.
“Iran simply needs to say, ‘We’ve agreed to no longer enrich,’” Rubio
said on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” on Thursday night. About the talks,
he added, “This is the best opportunity they’re going to have.”
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Meanwhile, a person familiar with the U.S. negotiations said America
“had never confirmed its participation” in a fourth round of talks
in Rome. However, the person said the U.S. expected the talks to
occur “in the near future.” The person spoke on condition of
anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations.
Rome will see the Vatican begin its conclave next week to pick a new
pope after the death of Pope Francis. Two other rounds of U.S.-Iran
talks have been held in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
The talks seek to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the
lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has
imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on a half-century of
enmity. The negotiations have been led by Araghchi and U.S. Mideast
envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting
Iran’s program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials
increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their
stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
The U.S. president with his threat on social media would be going
after Iran's major economic resource. It produced an average of 2.9
million barrels a day in 2023 of crude oil, according to the Energy
Information Administration.
Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers did limit Tehran’s
program. However, Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018,
setting in motion years of attacks and tensions. The wider Middle
East also remains on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza
Strip.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues an airstrike campaign, called
“Operation Rough Rider,” that has been targeting Yemen's Houthi
rebels, who long have been backed by Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth early Thursday warned Iran over the rebels.
“Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know
exactly what you are doing,” he wrote. “You know very well what the
U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the
CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”
Last Saturday's round of talks, which included experts drilling down
into the details of a possible deal, also took place as an explosion
rocked an Iranian port, killing at least 70 people and injuring more
than 1,000 others.
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Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, and Matthew
Lee and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.
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