Trump threatens "severe tariffs" targeting Russia amid ceasefire ultimatum

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Trump threatens "severe tariffs" targeting Russia amid ceasefire ultimatum

2025-07-16 06:08 Last Updated At：18:19

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will supply weapons to Ukraine through NATO, and threatened "severe tariffs" against Russia if a ceasefire agreement isn’t reached within 50 days.

During an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump confirmed the U.S. commitment to manufacturing and selling weapons to Ukraine.

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Trump threatens "severe tariffs" targeting Russia amid ceasefire ultimatum

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Trump threatens "severe tariffs" targeting Russia amid ceasefire ultimatum

"We are going to be sending them weapons and they're going to be paying for them," said Trump.

He further warned of imposing "very severe tariffs" on Russia if no progress is made.

"We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days.There will be secondary tariffs of about 100 percent," the U.S. president added.

In response, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Trump’s remarks as a "theatrical ultimatum" and stated that Russia "didn’t care."

"Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn't care," Medvedev wrote on X.

According to British media, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on Monday described Trump's strong stance on Russia as positive, but noted that Washington's 50-day timeline is a "long time."

Iran swears to counterattack if attacked

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned on Sunday that Tehran would view the United States and Israel's military bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" should Washington take military action against Iran.

At a parliamentary session convened to review an emergency proposal on assembly regulations, Qalibaf emphasized that, at this highly sensitive juncture, Iran must accurately and thoroughly identify the schemes of its adversaries.

Qalibaf said that Iran is currently confronting Israel and the United States simultaneously on four fronts: economic, cognitive, military, and counterterrorism. Of them, the economic warfare and the cognitive and psychological warfare began many years ago and have persisted to this day, growing increasingly complex and intense in recent years.

The remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran, taking advantage of its nationwide unrest.

Protests have erupted in several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp fall of the rial and long-standing economic hardship. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the demonstrations and voiced willingness to address economic grievances, while warning against violence and vandalism.

Amid the ongoing protests, deadly clashes have been reported lately between police and what the government described as "rioters." However, no official death toll has been released.

Also on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the country's economic situation and political environment in a televised interview later that day.