Trump threatens Iran’s partners: How do secondary sanctions work?

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has suggested that China and India could be instrumental in aiding President Donald Trump to extricate the United States from its conflict with Iran. Clinton pointed out that these two nations are the largest purchasers of Iranian oil and gas, which could provide them with significant leverage over Tehran.

She stated, “If you want to figure out how Trump can get out of this, I think the key to it is probably China and India.” Clinton further elaborated on her thought process, explaining that these countries' major purchases of Iranian oil and gas give them considerable influence. "Key to it is probably China & India," she affirmed.

When questioned about the potential pressure Clinton would exert on China, she mentioned the threat of imposing secondary sanctions as a means of leverage. Clinton indicated that she would encourage China to aid in persuading Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to return to the previous state of affairs. She also advocated for diplomacy over military pressure, urging Trump to pursue a diplomatic approach rather than escalating military actions.

Clinton argued that diplomacy would provide the best leverage, stating, "It does seem to me that that is where the best pressure would come if Trump were willing to use diplomacy instead of bluster."