Why U.S. Pressure on Iran May Matter Less to China Than Washington Thinks

Deputy Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Sun Lei addresses during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Iran at the request of the United States at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

U.S. President Donald Trump’s mounting pressure on both Venezuela and Iran is primarily targeted at the governments in both countries, but a clear secondary priority is to put more pressure on China.

Both Iran and Venezuela have longstanding ties with China and together account for an estimated 18% of China’s oil imports. As of this weekend, Venezuelan oil shipments to China have been blocked, prompting MAGA supporters and various conservative factions in Washington to do something similar in Iran.

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by Eric Olander

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