Trump’s lack of progress on Iran is beginning to damage Sino-US relations — Phar Kim Beng

The inability of President Trump to achieve a durable breakthrough with Iran is beginning to damage the already complicated relationship between the United States and China. Beijing has indicated that it could retaliate if Washington significantly expands secondary sanctions against Chinese companies doing business with Iran, creating an increasingly dangerous chain reaction.

The United States has turned to economic coercion, warning countries maintaining commercial relations with Iran that they could eventually face exclusion from the dollar-centred financial system. However, secondary sanctions are fundamentally different from sanctions directed solely at Iran and internationalise the confrontation, posing a significant threat to China's economy and interests.

With Trump and Xi Jinping expected to meet within weeks, this issue could become an unwanted spoiler in Sino-US diplomacy.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.