Trump Warns of Sanctions on Countries Purchasing Oil or Petrochemicals from Iran

Trump Warns of Sanctions on Countries Purchasing Oil or Petrochemicals from Iran

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a stern warning, stating that any country purchasing Iranian oil would face sanctions. This threat came at a time when planned talks regarding Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program were postponed.

Trump wrote on social media:
"All purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must stop, NOW!"
He further added that anyone—individual or country—who buys these products from Iran will not be allowed to do business with the United States.

This warning followed an announcement from Oman that upcoming weekend nuclear talks had been postponed. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi posted on X (formerly Twitter):
"For logistical reasons, the U.S.-Iran meeting scheduled for Saturday, May 3, has been postponed. A new date will be announced when mutually agreed upon."

Al-Busaidi, who has mediated three previous rounds of talks, did not provide further details.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in a statement that the talks had been "postponed at the request of Oman’s Foreign Minister." He affirmed that Iran remained committed to achieving a "fair and lasting agreement."

Meanwhile, a source close to the U.S. negotiating team said the U.S. "never confirmed its participation" in the fourth round of talks. However, the source added that the U.S. expected the negotiations to occur "soon." As the talks were to be held behind closed doors, the individual spoke on condition of anonymity.

In Rome, the conclave to select a new pope will begin next Wednesday following the death of Pope Francis. The previous two rounds of talks were held in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

These negotiations are aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the severe economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff are leading the discussions.

Trump has repeatedly threatened airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities if no agreement is reached. Iranian officials, in turn, have warned that they may pursue a nuclear weapon using their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

The 2015 nuclear deal had curbed Iran’s program. However, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018, sparking years of renewed tensions. At the same time, the broader Middle East remains unstable due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the United States is continuing its airstrike campaign called “Operation Rough Rider” targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are long believed to be supported by Iran.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a warning to Iran on Thursday morning:
"Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. We will exact CONSEQUENCES at the time and place of our choosing."

During last Saturday’s round of talks, a massive explosion struck a port city in Iran, killing at least 70 people and injuring more than 1,000 others.