Trump allowed China to buy Iranian oil, but there is a caveat

A senior White House official said Trump’s words did not reflect the new policy.

US President Donald Trump said China could buy Iranian oil after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire. The White House said that this does not mean an easing of US sanctions.

“China can now continue to buy oil from Iran. I hope they will buy it in large quantities from the United States as well,” Trump was quoted as saying by Reuters .

The US President drew attention to the fact that Iran has not yet made any attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers, as this would be a problem for China, the largest importer of Iranian oil.

“The president continues to urge China and all countries to import our oil, not Iranian oil in violation of US sanctions,” the source said.

Any easing of sanctions on Iran would mark a shift in US policy after Trump said in February he would renew pressure on Tehran to halt Iranian oil exports over its nuclear program and funding of militants in the Middle East.

“President Trump’s green light for China to continue buying Iranian oil reflects a return to lax standards for sanctions enforcement,” said Scott Modell, a former CIA officer and CEO of Rapidan Energy Group.

According to him, the American leader will probably not lift sanctions before the upcoming negotiations between the US and Iran on the nuclear program, so as not to lose leverage.

Iranian oil accounts for about 13.6% of Beijing’s oil purchases this year, and the discounted barrels are a lifeline for independent refiners facing margin pressure. American oil accounts for just 2% of China’s imports, and Beijing’s 10% tariff on it has curbed purchases.

Sanctions against Iranian oil – latest news

US President Donald Trump has threatened secondary sanctions on countries that buy oil from Iran . He said that “all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must be stopped immediately.”

The US Treasury Department later imposed sanctions on several Chinese companies and other entities that the department believes are involved in purchasing millions of dollars of Iranian oil.

(C)UNIAN 2025