US threatens major economic sanctions on Iran, testing China ties

Washington officials warned on Thursday that intensifying economic pressure on Tehran could trigger a retaliatory response from Beijing, complicating U.S. efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear and regional activities. The assessment, voiced by senior members of the State Department and Treasury, reflects concerns that tighter sanctions—particularly those targeting Iran’s oil exports and financial networks—might intersect with China’s growing commercial and strategic partnership with the Islamic Republic.

China, which accounts for roughly a third of Iran’s oil trade and has pledged to expand infrastructure projects under its Belt and Road Initiative, has previously signaled that it would defend its economic interests against unilateral measures it deems unjust. Analysts note that Beijing’s leverage in the United Nations Security Council and its capacity to provide alternative financing channels could blunt the impact of Western sanctions, prompting Washington to weigh the risk of a broader geopolitical backlash as it calibrates its policy toward Iran.