Greer says nothing off the table on Iran sanctions
The trade representative's comment comes as Iranian officials prepare to travel to New York for UN talks this week.
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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said nothing is off the table regarding further sanctions on Iran.
The comment lands amid a tense stretch between Washington and Tehran. On Thursday, Trump said Iran wants a deal but is not ready for one. The next day, Iran's IRGC Navy fired at least five cruise missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and Trump said he would decide on military action against Iran. Iran said on Saturday that Qatar had relayed its conditions to Washington to end the conflict. Greer himself spoke on Sunday about a board-of-trade agreement with China.
Iranian officials are due in New York this week for UN talks, and Trump has signaled willingness to negotiate. Greer's openness to broader sanctions raises the risk of further pressure on oil markets already strained by the regional conflict and by Iran's blockade tactics in the Strait of Hormuz. New sanctions would cut against any diplomatic momentum from the New York talks and could tighten global crude supplies further, a combination that traders will watch for its effect on oil prices and on growth-sensitive equities.