Iran-Talks Delay Leads to Trump's Threat of Sanctions on Iranian Oil
The US announced on Thursday that a new round of nuclear talks with Iran are imminent, but Trump declared his intention to enforce sanctions and called for a global boycott of "any amount" of Iranian oil or petrochemicals.
Iran initially scheduled these talks for this weekend in Rome, but they've been delayed due to "logistical reasons." Oman, who has acted as a mediator between the two adversaries, confirmed this delay. However, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated that the meeting's date and venue were never officially decided.
Trump, who tore up an earlier nuclear deal in 2018, expressed hope for a fresh agreement, but he remains ambivalent. He's hinted at returning to "maximum pressure" on Iran, but reluctantly, as per his hawkish advisors' urging.
Iran seeks relief from the crushing sanctions imposed by Trump, including an attempt to prohibit all countries from buying Iranian oil.
Trump vowed enforcement on Thursday, just a day after the US imposed sanctions on seven companies accused of transporting Iranian petroleum products. "All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW!" Trump declared on his Truth Social platform.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took to social media to warn Iran over its support for Yemen's Huthi insurgents, emphasizing that the US military is capable of severe consequences.
Iran's foreign ministry responded to the sanctions and threats by condemning the contradictory approach of American decision-makers and their lack of goodwill. The sanctions, according to the ministry, are another example of economic terrorism aimed at disrupting friendly and legal relations between developing countries.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, with additional insights from Common Dreams[1])
[1] Common Dreams, "Officials Postpone U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks as Escalating Tensions Mount," accessed 12 April 2023, https://www.commondreams.org/news/2023/04/11/officials-postpone-usiran-nuclear-talks-escalating-tensions-mount
- Despite the imminent nuclear talks between the US and Iran, political ambiguity persists, with Trump expressing hopes for a fresh agreement but also hinting at reinstating maximum pressure on Iran, as per his hawkish advisors' urging.
- Iran, seeking relief from the crippling sanctions imposed by Trump, has attempted to prohibit all countries from buying Iranian oil and petrochemicals, a move met with vigorous enforcement by Trump.
- In retaliation to the sanctions and threats from the US, Iran's foreign ministry denounced the inconsistent approach of American decision-makers, accusing them of economic terrorism aimed at disrupting friendly and legal relations between developing countries.
- As negotiations between the US and Iran are delayed due to logistical reasons, concerns about the impact on the global petrochemical market grow, given the Trump administration's tough stance on Iranian oil and petrochemical purchases.
