China Rejects Trump’s Iran Sanctions Threat as Beijing Buys 90% of Tehran’s Crude
Updated
Updated · CNN · Aug 21
China Rejects Trump’s Iran Sanctions Threat as Beijing Buys 90% of Tehran’s Crude
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 21
Summary
China said Trump’s threatened “economic D-Day” against Iran does not serve any party’s interests, rebuffing US demands that Beijing stop doing business with Tehran.
Lin Jian said sanctions and pressure are not the answer and urged a negotiated settlement, underscoring how little leverage Washington has over Iran’s biggest economic backer.
Beijing’s stance matters because China buys about 90% of Iranian crude exports, making Trump’s threat of “tremendous economic consequences” hard to enforce without risking a wider US-China clash.
Iran also rejected the pressure campaign, warning those who impose new levies could face prosecution, while President Masoud Pezeshkian said the war should end before economic strain worsens further.
The dispute comes after a 60-day peace window expired with no talks scheduled, oil prices still rising and Strait of Hormuz traffic remaining depressed.