US Economic Campaign Against Iran Hobbled by Relationship with China

The Trump administration's economic campaign against Iran may be hindered by its relationship with China, the Islamic Republic's biggest trading partner and oil buyer.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced an 'economic onslaught' on Iran's financial connections around the world, but specifics about targeting China were absent from his remarks.

This has led to doubts about how effective the campaign will be, as the US must balance putting pressure on Iran with avoiding higher tensions with China that could harm the American economy.

'The announcement yesterday was very careful in my view to avoid specifics (against China), which could have led to a disruption in the summit,' said Edgard Kagan, senior adviser and Freeman Chair in China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.