Brazilian vice-President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Geraldo Alckmin, said on Thursday (Jan. 15) that possible sanctions by the US against Iran, as announced by US President Donald Trump, should not affect Brazil.

“The US has stated that it does not want trade with Iran. But Iran has 100 million people. European countries export to Iran, and most countries have some kind of export. In Brazil, our trade relationship with Iran is small,” he said.

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“Super-tariffs are not so easy to enforce. You’d have to apply them in more than 70 countries around the world, including European countries,” he added, during an interview for EBC’s radio broadcast Bom Dia, Ministro.

Alckmin recalled there has been no executive order from the Trump administration that actually imposes sanctions on Iran. “We hope those will not be applied. Because export tax is a regulatory tax. It’s a different logic. And that would apply to the whole world,” he stated.

The minister also said that Brazil has no disputes with anyone.

“In Brazil, the last war was over a century ago. Brazil is a peaceful country that acts to promote peace whenever possible. What we want is peace. War leads to death and poverty. It’s the failure of good politics.”

Alckmin described the current geopolitical scenario as a difficult time for the world and a time for Brazil to be heard more.

“We will promote peace, strengthen multilateralism, and seek to improve people’s lives through employment and increased income. This is the right path, and this is the path Brazil is following.”

*Alex Rodrigues contributed to this article.