Washington sees Iran pressure working as Beijing cuts oil buys
US says sanctions and naval blockade are squeezing Iran, citing China's reduced oil imports. Tehran threatens a faster, more painful response.
Washington has expressed confidence that its campaign of sanctions and naval pressure against Iran is yielding results, even as Tehran threatens a sharper military escalation. The United States believes the combination of economic restrictions and a maritime blockade is steadily weakening Iran's position.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has pointed to a notable shift in Chinese behaviour as evidence that the pressure campaign is working. According to Bessent, China — traditionally one of Iran's largest oil buyers — has been steadily reducing its purchases of Iranian crude. This decline is seen as a key indicator that the sanctions are biting deeper than before.
The assessment from Washington comes amid heightened rhetoric from Tehran. Iranian officials have vowed to respond to any further American attacks with a faster, heavier and more painful retaliation than previous exchanges. The warning signals that while the US sees progress through economic coercion, the military standoff remains volatile.
The situation in West Asia continues to hang in a delicate balance, with Washington projecting that the conflict will eventually end under sustained pressure, while Tehran insists it retains the capacity and will to escalate. The role of China, as a major buyer of Iranian oil and a diplomatic player, remains a critical variable in how the standoff evolves.