US Imposes New Oil Sanctions on China Ahead of Planned Trump Visit Amid Rising Tensions
The US Treasury Department has announced new sanctions against a major Chinese refinery and dozens of shipping companies involved in transporting Iranian oil, ahead of a potential meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart. This move comes as relations between Washington and Beijing have been marked by economic and political tensions in recent months.
According to American media reports, these sanctions target one of China’s largest independent refineries and companies engaged in the transport of Iranian oil. US officials stated that the aim of this measure is to restrict the networks involved in the transfer and sale of Iranian oil.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin emphasized that Washington will continue, as he put it, “to restrict the network of ships, intermediaries, and buyers that Iran relies on.” These remarks indicate that the US government’s economic pressure policy on Tehran remains a priority.
The sanctions were announced amid volatility in global energy markets. Meanwhile, China has repeatedly criticized the US’s unilateral sanctions as violations of international law and called for resolving disputes through dialogue.
The announcement comes just before Trump’s scheduled visit to China, which had previously been postponed. It remains unclear whether the meeting will take place given the current state of bilateral relations.
