Trump's Next Move: Squeezing Iran Further
US President Donald Trump has imposed significant economic pressure on Iran since the war began in February. He has sanctioned Iran's oil networks, squeezed its banks, targeted its shadow fleet, and tightened the noose around its trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
The question is not whether Washington can punish Tehran, but how much economic pressure the US can add without hurting itself. Trump has vowed to hit Iran hard economically, a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington was preparing measures against Tehran that would have 'never been seen' before.
One of the most direct ways for Washington to squeeze Tehran is by targeting Chinese companies that continue to buy Iranian oil. China is by far Iran's biggest oil customer, accounting for more than 80 per cent of its shipped crude exports, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler.