US plan to isolate Iran faces major roadblock as China siphons off Tehran’s oil
Washington – Washington wants to squeeze Iran’s economy into hegemony, but a powerful player stands in the way: China. With billions of dollars in trade and purchases of Iranian oil, Beijing has become Tehran’s main economic lifeline, turning the U.S. campaign to isolate Iran into an all-out war.
The US may face a major obstacle in its campaign to isolate Tehran economically, with China emerging as a key factor that could determine whether Washington’s pressure strategy succeeds or fails.
A report by The New York Times U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy could prove difficult without the support of Beijing, Iran’s biggest trading partner and most important oil consumer, he said. The data shed light on the scale of the relationship. China and Iran traded about $41.2 billion in 2025, while China imported about $31.2 billion worth of Iranian crude oil during the same year.
At times, Chinese buyers have accounted for nearly 90 percent of Iran’s total oil exports, providing Tehran with an important source of foreign income despite U.S. sanctions. A large part of Iran’s oil trade with China consists of small private refineries, commonly known as “tea pots”.
These refineries are relatively less integrated into the international financial system, potentially making it more difficult for Washington to exert pressure through conventional sanctions. The US could target Iranian banks, companies, oil traders and ships with sanctions, but the impact could be limited if Chinese buyers continue to buy Iranian crude.
That leaves Washington with a difficult equation: Sanction Iran, but convince China to stop buying its oil. The challenge does not end with Iranian oil.
Beijing also has significant economic leverage of its own. According to the report, Beijing could limit exports of key minerals needed by the US technology and defense industries, creating another potential strain in US-China relations.
China has already shown a willingness to use restrictions on exports of key minerals as an economic weapon during previous trade tensions with Washington.
The analysis suggests that as long as Beijing maintains trade ties with Tehran, Iran can maintain a significant stream of oil revenue despite US sanctions.
So Washington may be able to increase pressure on Iranian banks, businesses, shipping companies and oil traders, but it will be much harder to completely cut off Iran economically if China continues to do business with Tehran. The report also highlighted a wider geopolitical complexity.
US military activities in the Middle East reportedly required Washington to move some military assets away from the Pacific. Chinese observers have interpreted these developments as a possible weakening of America’s military position in Asia.
This could add another layer to the already complicated US-China-Iran triangle, as Washington balances pressure on Tehran with its strategic competition with Beijing. The emerging picture is clear: America’s ability to squeeze Iran economically depends not only on what Washington does, but also on what Beijing refuses to do.
Beijing is central to Iran’s economic survival, with billions of dollars in bilateral trade, tens of billions of dollars in Iranian oil purchases, and Chinese buyers dominating Tehran’s crude exports.
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The post The US plan to isolate Iran is facing a major roadblock as China keeps oil flowing to Tehran appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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