Vance on Iran: Diplomacy vs. Trump Strikes – Live Updates

China condemns US tariffs on countries trading with Iran

China said late on Monday that it opposed “any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction” after US President Donald Trump posted on social media that nations doing business with Iran would face a 25% tariff on US trade.

“China’s position against the indiscriminate imposition of tariffs is consistent and clear. Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems,” a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said on X.

“China firmly opposes any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”

Trump announces 25 per cent tariff on countries trading with Iran

US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on any country doing business with Iran, ramping up pressure as a rights group estimated that a crackdown on protests has killed at least 648 people.

Trump, who has repeatedly threatened Iran with military intervention, said in a social media post on Monday that the new levies would “immediately” hit the Islamic republic’s trading partners that also do business with the United States.

“This Order is final and conclusive,” he wrote, without specifying which countries would be affected.

Iran’s main trading partners are China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, according to the economic database Trading Economics.

Vance urges diplomacy as Trump weighs possible strikes on Iran

Some senior aides in President Donald Trump’s administration, led by Vice President JD Vance, are urging Trump to try diplomacy before launching strikes against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing U.S. officials.

The White House was weighing an offer from Tehran to engage in talks over its nuclear programme as Trump appeared to be considering authorising military action against Iran.

A spokesman for Vance said the Journal’s report was not accurate.

“Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio together are presenting a suite of options to the President, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military actions,” said William Martin, Vance’s communications director.

“They are presenting those options without bias or favour.”

Welcome to our liveblog dedicated to the ongoing situation in Iran.