US Hesitant to Impose New Sanctions on Chinese Buyers of Iranian Oil
Washington:The United States is reportedly seeking to avoid, for now, imposing new sanctions on Chinese companies and buyers purchasing Iranian crude oil.
Former US national security official Mark Pfeifle said Washington hopes it will not have to resort to secondary sanctions against China over its continued purchases of Iranian oil.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Pfeifle said that US President Donald Trump and the Treasury Department may keep potential sanctions as an option to be used if necessary.
According to him, the economies of China and the United States are deeply interconnected, making large-scale economic action against Beijing diplomatically and economically difficult.
Pfeifle said Washington’s current strategy appears to be aimed at encouraging China to obtain crude oil from alternative sources rather than purchasing Iranian oil.
He noted that Chinese refineries have continued to buy sanctioned Iranian crude at relatively discounted prices, giving them an economic advantage over competitors in the global market.
The former US official claimed that China has shown little interest in assisting Washington in its efforts regarding Iran and may also be quietly providing support to Tehran.
He added that China is pursuing a long-term strategy and may not object to the United States remaining engaged for an extended period in another international conflict, such as a war involving Iran.
If Washington decides to impose secondary sanctions on Chinese companies or financial institutions, existing trade and diplomatic tensions between the world’s two largest economies could intensify further.
The issue of Iranian oil purchases has gained increased importance as Washington seeks to step up economic pressure on Iran, while China remains one of Tehran’s key trading partners.
Experts warn that any US sanctions targeting Chinese companies or financial institutions could have consequences beyond Iran, potentially affecting global oil trade and further straining relations between the United States and China.
