US officials push for sanctions on China over oil purchases from Iran
- Such a move would complicate trade talks between the two countries and further strain the relationship
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Eliana Johnson on politico.com on July 11, 2019.
Senior administration officials now agree that China defied US sanctions when it imported more than a million barrels of crude oil from Iran last month. But they are grappling with whether – and how – to hit back, according to three US officials.
The US State Department had considered issuing a waiver allowing Chinese companies to receive Iranian oil as payment in kind for their investment in an Iranian oilfield, but that idea has been abandoned.
China hawks on the National Security Council are now pushing for the US to impose secondary sanctions on Chinese entities, a move that would complicate trade talks between the two countries and further strain the relationship.
The Trump administration has been pushing to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero as part of its policy of “maximum pressure” on Tehran amid the worsening stand-off over Iran’s nuclear programme. It has had some success in persuading several of Iran’s largest consumers – India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey – to curb their purchases.
