China Defies U.S. Economic D-Day against Iran
Beijing vows to maintain trade relations with Tehran despite a new wave of U.S. sanctions targeting shipping, oil, and shadow-fleet vessels.

Beijing has officially rejected the latest round of economic restrictions imposed by the U.S. government, asserting that its commercial ties with Iran remain lawful. According to a report by OilPrice.com, the Chinese Foreign Ministry signaled that the country will not sever its interactions with Tehran. This response follows the launch of a new U.S. sanctions initiative aimed at curbing Iranian oil revenues and maritime logistics.
The U.S. Treasury Department recently blacklisted various entities, including brokers and shipping firms across China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, for their involvement in the petroleum trade. While the measures target vessels and international companies facilitating the movement of Iranian crude, the current administration did not extend these sanctions to include Chinese banking institutions. The U.S. effort seeks to disrupt the financial networks supporting Iran's energy industry.
In response to the measures, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that "economic warfare and maximum pressure provide no solution" to global tensions. The official emphasized that China views these unilateral actions as a violation of international order that could harm the interests of other nations. Beijing indicated it is monitoring the situation and is prepared to take necessary steps to protect its domestic business interests against potential U.S. escalation.
Editorial Desk — Trade Flow Insight. Reporting and market notes compiled by the Trade Flow Insight editorial team.
Related coverage

Brent Back Above $100 as Houthis Hit Saudi Infrastructure
Crude oil prices, which dipped on Tuesday, reversed their direction, with Brent ticking above $100 again earlier today following reports of fresh Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $101.49 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate was changing hands for $90.14 per barrel, despite a statement from Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, who said Tuesday the kingdom’s oil flows via the Rast-West pipeline had rebounded to 5.8 million barrels daily. The statement…

Iranian Oil Starts Flowing to Tajikistan Despite U.S. Sanctions Risk
Tajikistan announced that it is now receiving oil and petroleum products from Iran, opening a potential new energy source for a country whose fuel supplies have long been dominated by Russia. The deliveries began in late August, Tajikistan's Energy and Water Resources Ministry told the Asia-Plus news agency, following talks between the two countries on expanding cooperation in the oil and gas sector. The ministry has not disclosed the volume of the shipments, their commercial terms, or how the oil and petroleum products were transported to Tajikistan.…

Iran’s Disappearing Oil Is Becoming Everyone’s Problem
Iranian oil is disappearing from the market just as its biggest buyer returns for more. China’s recovering crude demand is colliding with the loss of a supplier that sustained its independent refiners through the crisis, forcing them to compete for increasingly expensive alternatives. The consequences reach beyond China: every replacement barrel tightens supplies for other buyers, while Tehran faces a growing incentive to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, which is now carrying an unexpectedly strong 13 million barrels a day (just 5 million below…
