As a long-awaited ceasefire announcement eased global markets, US President Donald Trump again stirred trade tensions by threatening a new 50 per cent tariff on countries supplying weapons to Iran, while Tehran blocked oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz and warned it may withdraw from the agreement if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue.
In related diplomatic moves, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington to discuss the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
The former Dutch prime minister is scheduled to meet Trump later at the White House, as the president continues to criticise the transatlantic alliance for not assisting in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
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“A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!” Trump warned on social media on Wednesday, without saying which countries would be affected.
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That agreement came less than two hours ahead of Trump’s deadline for Iran to cede to his demands or face widespread destruction of its civilian infrastructure.
