Russia "could backfire" on BRICS tariff bomb threat

Russia has warned such an attempt could backfire, with U.S. President-elect Trump threatening to impose 100% tariffs on non-Western emerging economies and BRICS countries if they dump dollars."In many countries, the dollar is losing its appeal as a reserve currency, and this trend is getting faster," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing, according to Reuters and others.

Earlier, Trump warned, "Whether it's a new own currency or an existing currency, if BRICS challenges dollar hegemony, it will impose 100% tariffs and say goodbye to the U.S.-Iran export market."

Russia has also reaffirmed its support for Syrian President Al-Assad, who has been in crisis due to a rebel counteroffensive.

"We continue to support President Al-Assad and continue to contact him at the appropriate level," Peskov said. "Russia will prepare a position on what is needed to stabilize the situation."