US President Donald Trump voiced approval for China’s oil imports from Iran, marking a notable shift from Washington’s long-standing opposition to Tehran’s crude exports hours after he claimed to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
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“China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the US, also. It was my Great Honor to make this happen!” Trump posted on social media on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Beijing’s top diplomat called his counterpart in Tehran, expressing support for Iran’s commitment to safeguarding “its sovereignty and security”.
China is by far the largest importer of Iranian oil, according to the US Department of State. Washington believes that China avoids American sanctions by bypassing official channels to mask the origin of Iranian-produced oil.
The US Treasury Department, which enforces the sanctions, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Since Trump’s second administration, Washington has targeted mainland Chinese and Hong Kong companies over their role in helping buy Iranian oil, imposing rounds of sanctions on smaller or “teapot” oil refineries and shipping and financial firms.