U.S. Warns China Against Buying Oil from Iran and Russia
According to teh English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al-Monitor, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Tuesday that during trade talks between the United States and China in Stockholm, he warned Chinese officials that continued purchases of sanctioned oil from russia and Iran could trigger heavy tariffs up to 100 percent.
Bessent stated that under a proposal currently before the U.S. Congress, if countries persist in buying sanctioned Russian oil, the President of the United States would have authority to impose tariffs as high as 500 percent.
He added: “I believe anyone purchasing Russia’s sanctioned oil should be prepared for such tariffs.”
The Treasury Secretary also conveyed America’s dissatisfaction with China’s ongoing imports of Iranian oil directly to Beijing officials.
Bessent emphasized that former president Trump set a new deadline on Monday for Russia to make progress toward peace with Ukraine; otherwise, Russia’s oil buyers will face secondary sanctions-specifically 100 percent tariffs-within 10 to 12 days.
In response to these warnings, Chinese officials asserted their sovereign right to secure energy supplies and made it clear that decisions about purchasing oil are based solely on China’s domestic needs.
Bessent noted: “The Chinese are very sensitive about their sovereignty. They do not want us interfering. Therefore, they prefer paying a 100 percent tariff.”
He further cautioned that continued exports of dual-use technologies (both military and civilian) valued over $15 billion from China to Russia threaten China’s efforts to expand trade relations with Europe.
Regarding this matter,he said: “I reminded them [the Chinese] that these actions strongly impact European public opinion because they create an impression that China is supporting a war happening at Europe’s borders.”
