Iran says it will strengthen economic resilience as Washington prepares tougher sanctions, while China calls for diplomacy instead of unilateral economic pressure.
TEHRAN: Iran has vowed to strengthen its economy and withstand intensified U.S. sanctions, setting the stage for another major confrontation between Tehran and Washington as China pushes back against the American pressure campaign.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made the remarks Friday during a meeting with Iranian and Iraqi business representatives in Baghdad. He said economic development and national security were closely linked and urged Iran and Iraq to expand economic cooperation.
Ghalibaf called for greater use of the two countries’ national currencies in bilateral trade, arguing that reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar could help Tehran and Baghdad withstand external economic pressure.
His comments came a day after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans for what he described as the toughest sanctions ever imposed on Iran. Bessent said details of the new measures would be announced Monday and suggested that intensified economic pressure could reduce the need for another major military operation against Tehran.
President Donald Trump has also warned governments and businesses against providing financial or economic assistance to Iran, signaling that Washington could target entities outside Iran that continue doing business with Tehran.
Iran has rejected the campaign, describing U.S. sanctions as economic terrorism and insisting that such measures will not force it to abandon its position. Tehran has also accused Washington of using economic and political pressure after failing to achieve its objectives through military confrontation.
China Rejects Sanctions Strategy
China has opposed Washington’s unilateral sanctions strategy and called for a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict. Beijing’s position is particularly significant because China remains a major economic partner and buyer of Iranian oil.
Recent Reuters reporting indicates that China has accounted for more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil purchases, making the country a critical outlet for Tehran’s energy exports. However, Iranian oil shipments have recently faced significant disruption amid the wider conflict and U.S. pressure on trade routes.
The dispute could further complicate already strained U.S.-China relations. Washington is seeking international cooperation in enforcing its pressure campaign, while Beijing has repeatedly criticized unilateral sanctions.
The confrontation is also affecting global energy markets. Concerns over Iranian oil supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to higher oil prices, while disruptions to regional trade have added to uncertainty in international markets.
Iran now faces a difficult economic environment as Washington prepares additional sanctions, but Tehran appears determined to deepen regional trade ties and reduce its exposure to U.S.-dominated financial channels.
The effectiveness of the new sanctions campaign remains uncertain. For now, the standoff is widening beyond the U.S. and Iran, with China’s position adding another major dimension to an already volatile Middle Eastern crisis.
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