US Pressure on Iran's Trade Partners Could Derail Beijing's Plans

The Iranian economy is on shaky ground as it faces increased pressure from the US to cut ties with the country. The Trump administration has been trying to isolate Iran through economic means, and a recent decision by the UAE to suspend trade relations with Tehran has kicked off this latest attempt.

Iran's economy has already been strained due to high inflation, Western sanctions, and a war that has sharply reduced oil revenue. Now, it faces further instability as countries like China, its main buyer of oil, are being pressured by the US to cut ties with Iran.

China is the key player in this situation, as it buys the majority of Iran's crude through opaque trading networks that bypass sanctions. However, experts say Beijing may resist US pressure, given its economic interests in the region and its stranglehold on critical mineral supplies.

Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said that while Iran can replace the UAE as a trade partner, it won't happen overnight. Meanwhile, Riccardo Gasco, an analyst at the IstanPol think tank in Istanbul, believes Turkey would not like to become the next country helping Iran evade sanctions.