DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened sanctions on anyone who buys Iranian oil, a warning that came after planned talks over were postponed.
Trump wrote on social media, 鈥淎ll purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW!鈥� He said any country or person who buys those products from Iran will not be able to do business with the United States 鈥渋n any way, shape, or form.鈥�
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 鈥� Iran鈥檚 leading customer 鈥� at a time when the relationship is severely strained over the U.S. president鈥檚 tariffs.
Based on tanker tracking data, the U.S. Energy Information Administration concluded in a report published last October that 鈥淐hina took nearly 90% of Iran鈥檚 crude oil and condensate exports in 2023.鈥� 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.
鈥淔or logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淣ew dates will be announced when mutually agreed.鈥�
Al-Busaidi, who has mediated the talks through three rounds so far, did not elaborate.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also blamed 鈥渓ogistical and technical reasons鈥� for the postponement.
鈥淥n Iran鈥檚 part, there is no change in our determination to secure a negotiated solution,鈥� he wrote on X. 鈥淲e are more determined than ever to achieve a just and balanced deal: guaranteeing an end to sanctions, and creating confidence that Iran鈥檚 nuclear program will forever remain peaceful while ensuring that Iranian rights are fully respected.鈥�
Meanwhile, a person familiar with the U.S. negotiators said America 鈥渉ad never confirmed its participation鈥� in a fourth round of talks in Rome. However, the person said the U.S. expected the talks to occur 鈥渋n the near future.鈥� 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 . Two other rounds of U.S.-Iran talks have been held in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
The talks seek to limit Iran鈥檚 nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic . The negotiations have been led by .
Trump has repeatedly threatened to if a deal isn鈥檛 reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that 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鈥檚 2015 nuclear deal with world powers did limit Tehran鈥檚 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 .
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues an airstrike campaign, called 鈥淥peration Rough Rider,鈥� that has been , who long have been backed by Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth early Thursday warned Iran over the rebels.
鈥淢essage to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淵ou know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of 鈥� and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.鈥�
Last Saturday's round of talks, which included , also took place as an , 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.
Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
