Trump targets Iran’s trade lifelines - here are the countries most exposed
The U.S. has launched an economic campaign to isolate Iran by threatening penalties against international partners, particularly China, which remains a major buyer of Iranian oil. While China officially opposes these sanctions, analysts suggest it may quietly increase compliance to protect its access to the U.S. financial system.
Why it matters
This escalation in economic warfare could disrupt global energy markets and force major economies to choose between Iranian trade and access to the U.S. dollar.
The U.S. announced an "economic D-Day" campaign Monday to isolate Iran from the global economy, threatening penalties against "enablers" that continue doing business with Tehran.
The move is part of Washington's bid to sever the trade lifeline that has sustained Tehran's economy through nearly six months of war.
While enforcement details are sketchy, the threat could still put the U.S. on a collision course with some of Tehran's major trade partners.
China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil and serves as a crucial link to the global economy for Tehran, accounting for about 90% of its oil exports, according to the U.S. government .
China reported $9.96 billion in bilateral trade with Iran in 2025, excluding the roughly $31.2 billion in unreported Iranian crude oil exports to China that year, according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
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