Trump threatens sanctions against buyers of Iranian oil after US-Iran nuclear talks are postponed

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 project were postponed Trump wrote on social media that All purchases of Iranian Oil or Petrochemical products must stop NOW He mentioned any country or person who buys those products from Iran will not be able to do business with the United States The threat came after Oman reported planned nuclear negotiations for this coming weekend had been postponed A message online from 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 rd he wrote New dates will be communicated when mutually agreed Al-Busaidi who has mediated the talks through three rounds so far did not elaborate Iran s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei issued a message describing the talks as being postponed at the request of Oman s foreign minister He explained Iran remain committed to reaching a fair and lasting agreement Meanwhile a person familiar with the U S negotiators noted that America had never verified its participation in a fourth round of talks in Rome However the person announced 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 soon will see the Vatican begin the conclave on Wednesday to pick a new pope after the death of Pope Francis Two other rounds of talks have been held in Muscat the capital of Oman The talks seek to limit Iran s nuclear activity in exchange for the lifting of several 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 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U S Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran s undertaking if a deal isn t reached Iranian officers increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels Iran s nuclear deal with world powers did limit Tehran s effort However Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 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 advocacy 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 attainable deal also took place as an explosion rocked an Iranian port killing at least people and injuring more than others