US Iran Pressure Campaign Faces China Conundrum

A successful US economic pressure campaign against Iran would require confronting China, says Clayton Seigle, Senior Nonresident Scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The reason is simple: a major buyer of Iranian energy, China's involvement in such a campaign could put Washington's 'fragile trade war détente' with Beijing at risk.

Seigle warns that tougher pressure on Iran could also lead to higher energy prices if the country retaliates against shipping or regional infrastructure. The US gasoline prices are already a concern ahead of the midterms, which adds another layer of complexity to this delicate situation.