‘Tremendous costs’: Can Trump stop other countries from trading with Iran?

What the report says

US President Donald Trump has threatened a new round of economic pressure on Iran, warning on Truth Social that any country, company or institution helping Tehran could face severe consequences. According to Al Jazeera, the move is part of a broader US effort to isolate Iran while talks to end the war between the two countries remain stalled. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the warning as a distraction from US domestic problems, while Iranian state media said the announcement was not new.

Al Jazeera reported that Washington has already reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil and has used temporary waivers during the conflict to ease energy market strain. The article said Iran’s oil exports have fallen sharply during the war and under sanctions, reducing a key source of state revenue. It also noted that Iran still relies on non-oil trade, including imports and exports with regional and global partners.

The piece said Iran’s main commercial ties include China, Iraq, India, the UAE, Turkiye and Germany, though the UAE announced an indefinite trade embargo this week after accusing Iran of firing missiles at its territory. Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera said US sanctions can raise the cost of doing business with Iran, but do not necessarily end trade, especially where countries resist compliance or use indirect channels.

The broader significance is that Trump’s latest threat tests how far US economic power can reach beyond its own borders, and whether allies and trading partners will limit ties with Iran despite their own interests.