The United States has imposed sanctions on three individuals and nine companies, involving Iran's oil exports to China.

Unexpectedly, just after we announced Trump's visit to China, the United States has once again resorted to sanctions! On May 12, according to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions against three individuals and nine companies, citing their involvement in assisting Iran’s oil exports to China. Foreign media reported that among these entities, four are based in Hong Kong, four in the UAE, and one in Oman.

Foreign media noted that this move follows last Friday’s (May 8) sanctions targeting individuals and firms aiding Iran in purchasing weapons and components for drones and ballistic missiles—marking an escalation. Clearly, as the U.S. prepares for upcoming China-U.S. talks, it is once again deploying sanctions, underscoring its intent to exert maximum pressure on China. The message from Washington is clear: when it comes to issues of concern, the U.S. will leave no stone unturned to achieve its objectives, regardless of how much pressure it applies to China.

The U.S. aims to force us into a binary choice: either we yield by cutting off energy trade with Iran and aligning with America’s Middle East strategy to satisfy U.S. goals; or we continue enduring ongoing U.S. sanctions and extraterritorial jurisdiction, facing sustained economic and financial pressure. By turning Iran’s oil trade into a bargaining chip, the U.S. has intensified actions ahead of Trump’s visit to China, believing this tactic works.

Moreover, we observe that the U.S. deliberately included multiple Hong Kong-based enterprises in its sanction list—a clear attempt to test our red lines in Hong Kong’s financial and trade sectors and further interfere in Hong Kong affairs. From our standpoint, such moves are absolutely unacceptable. China’s purchase of Iranian oil does not require approval from the United States. While the U.S. seeks to compel concessions through pressure, we will firmly safeguard our national interests. We will not sacrifice national interests merely for the sake of superficial improvement in Sino-U.S. relations.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864942924098635/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author