As the U.S. threatens to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese exports, China has taken a more assertive stand against Iran's nuclear program, joining Russia in opposing Western sanctions. The UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which served as the foundation for the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement, was terminated, according to a joint letter sent to the UN Secretary-General by Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran. Russia and China maintain that the resolution's provisions naturally expire under international law, but the action follows the UN's reimposition of sanctions on Iran for alleged violations. With his threats of tariffs and emphasis on talks with Xi Jinping in South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to increase trade pressure. Concerns about the future of non-proliferation initiatives and regional stability in the Middle East are raised globally by the development, which links nuclear diplomacy to trade conflicts, restrictions on the export of rare earth elements, and the competition between the United States and China.