Washington is moving toward direct economic pressure on Beijing as part of a global strategy to isolate the Iranian energy sector. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a stern warning to China's leadership, declaring the US administration's intention to completely block oil supply channels from the Islamic Republic. In his official statement, the Treasury Secretary emphasized that the United States has the necessary leverage to ensure that Chinese companies are unable to continue purchasing Iranian crude. Bessent noted that China will retain the ability to meet its energy needs through other global suppliers, but its access to Iranian resources will be permanently cut off in the very near future.

The US Secretary of State's harsh rhetoric is supported by statistics demonstrating Tehran's critical dependence on the Chinese market. According to the US Treasury Department, in recent years, Beijing has become the primary financial contributor to the Iranian economy, purchasing over 90% of all Iranian oil exports. Although these supplies account for approximately 8% of China's annual energy balance, they are the only source of hard currency for the Iranian budget. By imposing such restrictions, the White House seeks to deprive Tehran of its remaining resources to finance its military programs, while simultaneously forcing Beijing to choose between cooperation with the sanctions regime and stable trade relations with the West.