U.S. Escalates Pressure Targeting China in Iran Oil Trade Crackdown

An oil tanker unloads imported crude oil at the Qingdao Port Oil Terminal in Shandong Province, China, on April 4, 2026. Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto)(Photo by CFOTO / NurPhoto via AFP)
An oil tanker unloads imported crude oil at the Qingdao Port Oil Terminal in Shandong Province, China, on April 4, 2026. The U.S. said it believed China would pause Iran oil purchases as Washington enforces a maritime blockade on Iran. Photo / Costfoto/NurPhoto via AFP

By Steve Holland and Daphne Psaledakis

The United States on Wednesday threatened to sanction buyers of Iranian oil and said it believed China would pause such purchases as Washington enforces a maritime blockade on Iran.

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