Trump Issues Warning to Nations That Defy US on Iran

President Trump issued another warning in regard to Tehran on Tuesday, but this time it's directed at nations outside Iran. "Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States," Trump tweeted. "I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!" The message comes as the first round of US sanctions goes back into effect on Iran following Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear arms accord. As the Guardian reports, the warning seems to be aimed mainly at the European Union, which opposes the sanctions. In fact, the EU has sought to protect member nations who continue to do "legitimate business" with Tehran. Trump calls the sanctions "the most biting" ever imposed and noted that they "ratchet up to yet another level" in November.

Iran's president, meanwhile, tells CNN the US is engaging in "psychological warfare" to sow divisions within Iran, though Hassan Rouhani predicted the sanctions would end up isolating America, not Iran. In addition to EU states, Rouhani said China and Russia would similarly continue conducting business with Iran. However, Rouhani also said he is open to talks with Trump immediately, though he suggested that the sanctions must end first. "If somebody puts a knife in its opponent or enemy's arm and says we want to negotiate, the answer is that they must first pull out the knife and then come to the negotiation table." (Secretary of State Mike Pompeo previously outlined what the US wants.)