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US to Impose Harshest Sanctions on Iran, Urges China's Cooperation

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The U.S. plans to impose its "harshest ever" sanctions on Iran, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
  • Bessent urged China to cooperate, highlighting shared interests in regional stability and energy prices.
  • Iran's foreign ministry condemned the threatened sanctions as "economic terrorism."

The United States is preparing to implement unprecedented sanctions against Iran, signaling a significant escalation in economic pressure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared the upcoming measures would be the "harshest ever" imposed, aiming to dismantle the Iranian regime.

This is a pincer movement, we are blockading (Iran) and will impose the harshest sanctions ever. This approach will work in Iran, we will dismantle the regime.

โ€” Scott BessentDescribing the U.S. strategy and its expected impact on Iran.

Bessent directly appealed to China to align with U.S. efforts, emphasizing the mutual benefit of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and stabilizing energy prices. He noted that China relies heavily on the Persian Gulf for its energy needs, suggesting cooperation would serve Beijing's interests. "Now is the time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision," Bessent stated, implying a global consensus was needed.

Now is the time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision.

โ€” Scott BessentUrging international cooperation with the U.S. sanctions plan.

However, Iran's Foreign Ministry swiftly denounced the U.S. threats. Spokesperson Abbas Araghchi dismissed the planned sanctions as an attempt to divert attention from America's own economic woes, labeling the U.S. actions as "economic terrorism." This starkly contrasts with the U.S. framing, highlighting the deep geopolitical tensions surrounding the issue.

The so-called 'Economic D-Day' is nothing more than a diversion to cover up crises such as America's unprecedented debt and soaring interest costs.

โ€” Abbas AraghchiIran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticizing the U.S. sanctions threat.

The potential impact on global trade, particularly between China and Iran, remains a significant concern. China procures over 80% of its seaborne crude oil from Iran, and any U.S. action against Chinese entities could trigger retaliatory measures, given China's role as a key supplier of critical materials like rare earths to the U.S.

We believe everyone wants the (Hormuz) Strait reopened and energy prices to fall. Remember, China gets 50% of its energy from the Persian Gulf region, so cooperating with this plan would greatly benefit them.

โ€” Scott BessentExplaining the economic rationale for international cooperation on Iran sanctions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.