President Donald Trump is set to challenge Chinese leader Xi Jinping over Beijing’s record-breaking purchases of Iranian oil during a high-stakes summit on May 14–15, as Washington warns that Chinese capital is sustaining Tehran’s military capabilities.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, speaking on Bloomberg Television on May 6, confirmed that China’s refusal to comply with U.S. sanctions “has to be a discussion item” when the leaders meet in Beijing. Greer characterized Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, asserting that any entity purchasing its crude is complicit in that activity.
The upcoming summit will occur against a backdrop of a revenue paradox that has allowed the Iranian regime to continue to profit despite intensified military pressure. Since the start of Operation Epic Fury in late February and the subsequent U.S. naval blockade, global energy prices have surged, and in the interim, it has cushioned the blow to Tehran’s treasury….
Trump–Xi Summit Set to Test US Resolve as China Defies Iran Oil Sanctions
