Trump warns that any country supporting Iran will face economic consequences
U.S. president Donald Trump warned that economic consequences would be imposed on?any countries who provided "any kind of lifeline? to Iran" in the U.S.'s quest to end a war? it began with Israel six months ago.
The war has killed thousands of people and engulfed countries from the Gulf. Global markets were shocked when Iran showed its control over shipping through the Strait Of Hormuz. About a fifth the traded oil in the world passed through this strait before February.
Both the U.S., and Iran, announced ceasefire agreements in April and June to'restore the free flow through Hormuz back to pre-war levels, on the road towards ending the war. But both collapsed quickly, even as Israel withdrew from the fighting.
Trump posted a vague message on Wednesday night on social media in which he promised "Economic Warfare and Isolation of an unprecedented scale,"?though details were scarce. Iran has endured punishing economic sanctions since 1979, when the Islamic Revolution began.
Trump wrote: "Any country that allows their financial institutions, businesses or airports to provide any kind of lifeline to Iran, will face TREMENDOUS economic consequences."
Trump's social-media threats and announcements are not always carried out or acted on as written. He did not mention any specific country and did not name it. The United Arab Emirates (which hosts a large U.S. base) announced on Tuesday that it would suspend all commercial activities, financial transactions, and trade with Iran, until further notice. The announcement was made after the?UAE defence ministry claimed it had detected two Iranian missiles that fell into sea. Iran rejected the report as unfounded. According to data from the?analytics company Kpler for 2025, China purchases more than 80% Iran's oil. However, the U.S. risk retaliation if it engages in economic warfare against China, which is a major supplier of minerals to the U.S., including rare-earth minerals.
Mohammad Mokhber said that Iran is open to dialogue but doesn't confuse it with surrender. This was according to the semiofficial Fars News Agency. Mokhber stated that military pressure and sanctions will not be able to break Iran's resolve. Trump stated on Tuesday that no talks are taking place with Iran. Jared Kushner - Trump's son in law and special envoy - had struck a positive tone the day before, saying that talks with Iran are still ongoing and "probably more robust than ever."
Trump wants to seize Iran’s stockpiles of?highly-enriched uranium. He is also seeking to replace the agreement he unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of in 2018 with a more restrictive one that will curb Iran’s nuclear research and energy programs. Iran has been a signatory to the non-proliferation agreement for many years and claims that its nuclear program is peaceful. (Reporting and writing by Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward, Editing by Lincoln Feast)
(source: Reuters)
