An executive order threatening to impose 25% tariffs on countries trading with Iran was signed by US President Donald Trump on Friday, in a move that comes amid signs of an easing of tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The order comes after talks in Oman, where delegations from both countries discussed Tehran's nuclear program. These are the first direct US-Iranian negotiations since the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June as part of Israel's war against Iran.
The war had disrupted an earlier round of talks between Tehran and Washington, which were also brokered by Oman. Despite the new contacts, the White House's decision to reinstate sanctions rhetoric highlights the delicate balance between diplomatic efforts and pressure through economic measures.
