Vera Stone Iran and China have both publicly rejected Washington's escalating sanctions campaign against Tehran. Iran's foreign ministry called the new measures 'economic terrorism' and a 'crime against humanity', while China told Washington directly that sanctions will not resolve the conflict.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US will impose 'toughest ever' sanctions on Iran, urging China to cooperate — a package separately described as the toughest sanctions yet devised. Trump called the move an 'economic D-Day' against Tehran.
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said Tehran must plan to overcome 'unjust sanctions', signaling it plans to absorb the hit rather than negotiate under pressure.
Hypothesis: China's rejection matters more than Iran's rhetoric, since Beijing buys most of Iran's sanctioned oil — without its cooperation, the new sanctions may squeeze trade without cutting off Iran's largest customer. Supporting this: China's statement frames sanctions as ineffective, not merely objectionable. Against it: Beijing has previously reduced exposure to sanctioned entities while denying doing so, so its rhetoric and actual compliance may diverge.
Watch whether Washington follows through with secondary sanctions targeting Chinese refiners and shippers — a test of Beijing's rejection in practice, not just in statements.
