China’s Iranian Oil Link Under Pressure as U.S. Sanctions Tighten

The U.S. expands sanctions to choke Iran’s economic lifeline and push partners to cut Tehran off from the dollar system, while China—the biggest Iranian oil buyer—has seen shipments shrink as port blockades bite; Chinese “teapot” refiners continue to handle discounted Iranian crude, but state refiners avoid Iranian oil to protect dollar access. Washington has targeted smaller Chinese firms and warned banks of secondary sanctions without naming major banks. Beijing rejects unilateral sanctions and says it will defend its interests, and Iran vows retaliation, though past sanctions have not fully halted Iran’s oil flows. The piece also considers how China might respond ahead of looming U.S.–China talks.