Trump Threatens Economic Isolation for Iran and Its Trading Partners

By Derek Wallbank and Patrick Sykes (Bloomberg) — US President Donald Trump threatened Iran and its trading partners with economic isolation after months of military strikes and a maritime blockade failed to force Tehran to capitulate.

Trump didn’t specify what measures he would take or which countries would be targeted, but his threat put an immediate focus on China, which buys the bulk of Iran’s oil. Brent crude prices advanced for a fifth day to about $94 a barrel, reaching the highest this month.

In its first reaction to Trump’s comments, Beijing said sanctions and pressure wouldn’t work