How China Buys Iran’s Sanctioned Oil

Communist China continues to purchase sanctioned oil from Iran at record levels. Here’s a look at how Beijing and Tehran teamed up to dodge US sanctions.

A crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, on Jan. 4, 2023. China Daily via Reuters

The Trump administration this week issued new sanctions against several Chinese entities involved in the purchase and import of sanctioned Iranian oil.

Beijing’s support of Tehran—both economically and politically—has continued to grow for nearly three decades. This support has often extended to sanctioned Iranian industries, although the precise mechanisms of China’s support remain somewhat opaque.