Iran nuclear deal

Next round of talks between US and Iran postponed

The upcoming round of talks on a new nuclear deal between the US and Iran has been postponed, Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Mediating country Oman cites "logistical reasons", but from the Iranian side the tone is more bitter.

- Depending on the US position, a new date will be set, an official source told Reuters.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran accused the US of "contradictory behavior and provocative statements" after the White House warned Tehran of supporting the Houthi rebels in Yemen and imposed new oil sanctions.

The US claims that it has never confirmed a fourth round of talks.

"Anyone who buys oil from Iran is not allowed to do business with the US"

Anyone who buys oil from Iran must not do business with the United States, Donald Trump said on Thursday evening after the announcement that the Iran talks were canceled.

Later in the evening, he emphasized the message in a post on Truth Social: Anyone who buys oil or petrochemical products from Iran must stop immediately.

“Any country or person who buys any amount of oil or petrochemical products from Iran will be subject to immediate secondary sanctions,” the president wrote. He added that they will not be allowed to do business with the United States in any way whatsoever.

On Wednesday, the United States imposed new oil-related sanctions on Iran. Oil prices, which had traded down nearly 3 percent around lunchtime, were back in the red on Thursday evening.

A senior Iranian government source told Reuters that the talks were canceled because of the US action.

“US sanctions on Iran during the nuclear talks do not make it easier for the parties to resolve the nuclear dispute through diplomacy,” the official told Reuters.

After Trump’s remarks at 8:30 p.m., oil prices rose further. WTI crude was up nearly 2 percent to $59 a barrel.