Washington, DC [US]: US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Thursday, threatening secondary sanctions on any country or individual purchasing Iranian oil or petrochemical products, as part of his administration’s intensified pressure campaign against Tehran.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared:
“ALERT: All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW! Any country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions. They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form.”
Sanctions Already in Motion
The warning follows recent US sanctions imposed two weeks ago on Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co. Ltd, a China-based refinery, which the US accused of purchasing over USD 1 billion worth of Iranian crude oil.
The State Department emphasized that the Trump administration remains committed to its “maximum pressure” policy aimed at cutting off Iran’s oil revenue, which Washington claims is being used to fund destabilizing activities in the region.
“The United States is also imposing sanctions on several companies and vessels involved in facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China as part of Iran’s ‘shadow fleet’,” said a statement from the department.
Strategic Implications
This marks the second time the US has taken action against an independent “teapot” Chinese refinery since Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 was issued on February 4. The administration has signaled a zero-tolerance approach to sanctions evasion and plans to hold both Iran and its trading partners accountable.
The measures come amid renewed diplomatic efforts involving Iran, the US, and Oman over Iran’s nuclear program — talks that have now been postponed due to logistical and technical reasons, as confirmed by Iran’s Foreign Ministry earlier on Friday.
What’s Next?
With Iran-US nuclear talks in limbo and Trump doubling down on economic isolation tactics, tensions in the Gulf region and broader Middle East could escalate. The move also risks straining relations with key economic players like China, who are major importers of Iranian oil.